This story is about an experience with my cleft lip and palate has been an important story in so many ways. I shared this story at two motivational speaking platforms when I lived in Shanghai, China. I also took some … Read More
Lifting Up Faizan’s Voice
Faizan Sheikh has Trisomy 18 which is known as Edwards syndrome, but Faizan’s condition is a bit rarer. Instead of having an extra chromosome 18 in all of his cells, he has them in only some of his cells, which … Read More
Payton, Our Miracle Baby
Payton was born in 2013. She was our miracle baby! When I was 29 years old and four weeks pregnant with our first child, I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. During this time, there wasn’t a lot of … Read More
Mia’s Story
Mia was born with a unilateral cleft lip and palate in 2016. She is a bundle of energy and can spend hours drawing, coloring, painting, but most of all she loves gymnastics. Many people believe that kids like Mia only … Read More
Continuing to Shine Despite Obstacles
Vilija was diagnosed with a cleft lip and palate at 19 weeks gestation. She is now 19 years old and has undergone 10 surgeries with her most recent in 2015. She is currently preparing to undergo one final procedure—a rhinoplasty, … Read More
Bobby’s Story
Bobby was born five weeks early, and to our surprise, he was born with a cleft lip and palate. We were immediately transferred to the NICU at Hasbro Children’s Hospital to get the extra care he needed. Bobby stayed in … Read More
Mother Inspired to Help Other Children
My husband Kyle and I were delighted when we learned we were pregnant with our first child. At the time, I was a registered nurse working in the pediatric emergency department and I had just enrolled in school to become … Read More
Greg Bowden, Care Club Member Testimonial
My wife Kristen and I have three children all born with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate; two daughters ages 21 and 20 and a son who is 12. Since the very beginning, over 20 years ago, we have relied … Read More
Laura Livingood, Care Club Member Testimonial
When I was 20 weeks pregnant, my husband Matt and I had our first ultrasound. Afterward the doctor said he did not get a clear picture of the baby’s face. He encouraged me to go to the hospital to get a … Read More
Andrew’s Update: Year Five
He’s five. My brilliant, beautiful, bubbly, bold, best-thing-in-my-world son is about to turn five years old. As his dedicated, loving (and extremely emotional) mother, it seems this birthday is hitting me more like a ton of bricks instead of just … Read More