Merry Christmas, CLAPA Community!
12-year-old Amelia, who was born with a cleft palate and who loves singing and dancing, recently performed ‘O Holy Night’ at her local Nursing Home. Here’s Amelia’s story, in her words.
Hi, I’m Amelia and this is my cleft palate journey. It started when I was a tiny little baby. I had to go through loads of operations and my mum got told I wouldn’t be able to talk properly, if at all, as my palate was completely missing.
I was getting seen weekly by a therapist and I would always love going to see her because we played games to do with speaking and I brought some home so that I could practice for the next week. I remember coming home with a shirt filled with stickers. I was sad every time I left but excited for the next week.
Just before school I started speaking a bit. After 10 years of therapy and help I finally reached my dream which was to sing and dance, which made everyone happy! I remember I went to see my old nursery when I was speaking and everyone was glad to see and hear me.
No matter what happens in life I will sing and dance forever. I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone that helped me reach my dream, especially the cleft palate team, as I am now the chattiest person you will ever meet. None of my teachers believe me when I say I was born with a cleft palate!