Helping the Girl Who Couldn't Smile

July 14, 2009— -- Twelve year old Kiana Deane was born with her face partially paralyzed, and for her entire life, she has not been able to smile.

Kiana says it's her "inner smile" that counts, and a surgical procedure taking place today could turn that inner smile into an outer one.

Kiana, who lives in Culver City, Calif., has had to face overwhelming struggles and challenges from day one.

"Kiana was born into this world through two drug-addicted parents who were described to me through the social workers as street junkies," explained her mother, Robin Deane, who adopted Kiana in 2001 at age 3. "So she was immediately placed in foster care."

It was difficult to find an adoptive family for the little girl who couldn't smile, but Robin Deane saw something special.

"I was drawn to her and I was connected to her. And I -- just believed for her," she said. "And when I was at the adoption fair the line for babies was very long. But then the line for special needs children ... I was the only one in that line."

Kiana had been born addicted to methamphetamine, and was paralyzed on one side of her face. Doctors didn't know if Kiana had a rare condition called Bell's palsey, the leading cause of facial paralysis in the United States, or another similar condition that causes partial paralysis.

"This side goes up, the left side," Kiana said. "And [the right] side doesn't. ... Doesn't do anything."

Kiana also explained that her left eyebrow doesn't move up and down, and she can't close her left eye all the way.

"So this side just ... stays there," she explained.

"They didn't think that she would achieve in school," Robin Deane recalled. "And just everything was just negative. But she has overcome all of that. And now she wants ... she's here today because she wants to tell the world her story."