Paige Atkison, 12, will be part of a team from Operation Smile that will travel to Egypt next week, in hopes of changing the lives of dozens of children who were born with cleft palates.
Atkison has raised more than $30,000 for Operation Smile, and estimates the money will help about 90 children.
At her grandmother's house in Northeast Bakersfield Wednesday afternoon, Atkison and her cousin were studying the Arabic language.
On her medical mission in Cairo, Egypt, next week, she will sit in the surgery room while doctors with Operation Smile will perform corrective surgery on underpriveleged children.
"I want to be able to go and say, hey I have a cleft, this is what it looks like," she said.
Atkison went through 8 surgeries and is now comfortable with her smile.
Since the last surgery, the 6th grader has proudly raised funds for the non-profit ogranization.
Operation Smile is made of medical professionals and volunteers who travel to third world countries to help children like Atkison.
"There are children that can't eat, or speak well, or drink anything," she explained. "So, hunger gets them."
Her 6th grade teacher, Barbara Wheeler, can arleady see that her life experiences have turned Atkison into a strong young lady.
"She's definitely a leader as opposed to a follower," Wheeler said. "She has a very good sense of who she is a person."
Atkison's humanitarian efforts landed her recognition in Hollywood at the 2007 Operation Smile Gala in Beverly Hills.
that's where she met former Pussycat Doll member Carmit Bachar.
"She was born with a cleft, " Atkison said.
The two started talking after Atkison noticed the pop singer was talking to her doctor.
"She says, 'Oh, this is my doctor, and I'm all, this is my doctor!'"
Since then, the two have become buddies.
And that's not the only celebrity on her list of friends.
She has also chatted it up with pop singer Jessica Simpson, sharing what they both love about Operation Smile.
But don't get her wrong: Atkison isn't "star-struck".
She is focused on reaching out across the globe.
Each surgery costs about $240.00.
In April of 2008, a fundraiser at a local salon brought the Atkisons to the $30,000 mark on monies raised.
The event itself raised $5,000, and she said two hospitals offered to match up to 5-thousand.
"So it was a $15,000 fundraiser!"
But money isn't Atkison's only concern.
She has asked her school mates at St. Johns Lutheran School to help with supplies, and has organized a drive that runs through Friday the 13th.
"It's a hygiene drive, to raise plastic baby bottles, toothpaste, and tooth brushes," she said.
While Atkison admits the drive has not generated as much yet, she is grateful for what she already has accomplished.
As she prepares for her very first medical mission, she knows it's not going to be her last.
"It's probably the most important to me that they get their clefts fixed," she said. "They can smile and do everything they couldn't have done, if they hadn't had it."
Paige Atkison is also taking three suitcases of toys for children: one for the boys, one of the girls, and a third full of stickers.
To fill each suitcase costs about $200, she said.
She has found sponsors for the first two, and is still looking for a third.
If you would like to help, contact her mother, Lisa Atkison at (661) 979-4430.
