About MDOS
Metro Detroit Operation Smile (MDOS) is a youth led 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to bringing joy, support, and connection to children and young adults facing life threatening illnesses, especially those in the often overlooked Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) age group. Founded in 2022 by Christian and Dylan Jiddou after Dylan's own journey with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, MDOS was born from a powerful realization: while many resources exist for young children and their parents, teens and young adults often go without the peer support and emotional connection they need during one of the most difficult times in their lives.
Our mission is simple: to bring a smile to these young patients by offering emotional, financial, and logistical assistance that helps them feel seen, supported, and less alone. Whether it is organizing toy drives for pediatric cancer patients, hosting bone marrow registry events in underserved communities, or developing a new mobile app to connect young patients with one another, we are here to fill the gaps in care that matter most.
We are proud to work alongside hospitals, schools, churches, and passionate volunteers who share our commitment to hope, healing, and human connection. From Detroit to Ann Arbor and beyond, MDOS is creating a compassionate community where every young fighter knows they are not in this alone.
We are just getting started and we are so grateful you are here.
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We believe every young person has the strength to face hard moments, shape their future, and inspire others along the way.
Our Mission
At Metro Detroit Operation Smile (MDOS), our mission is to bring joy, hope, and meaningful impact to adolescents and young adults facing life threatening illnesses. We are committed to providing emotional support, peer connection, and uplifting experiences through wish gifting, community outreach, and awareness efforts like bone marrow drives.
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Our Vision
We envision a world where every young cancer patient, no matter their age, background, or diagnosis, feels seen, supported, and connected. We believe no adolescent or young adult should go through cancer feeling alone or overlooked. Through compassionate community outreach, inclusive programs, and creative support tools, we aim to fill the emotional and social gaps often missed in traditional care. By building safe spaces, sharing uplifting experiences, and creating peer connections, we hope every young patient finds strength, healing, and a true sense of belonging during one of the hardest times in their life.