Stacey’s Story
Stacey and her son were both born with a cleft lip and palate. Sarah reflects on their journey so far and how it influenced her career choice.
I’m Stacey, and I was born with a unilateral cleft lip and palate. As a young girl, I was confident and happy, but when I got to secondary school, I was bullied about my appearance, and my self-esteem was low.
I went to college and studied photography at university, and although I was never entirely happy with the way I looked, I learned to live with it.
I became a medical photographer – having been on the other side so many times, I thought it was something I would enjoy. I felt it was a way to give something back as I could empathise with some of the patients.
I became a medical photographer – having been on the other side so many times, I thought it was something I would enjoy. I felt it was a way to give something back as I could empathise with some of the patients.
I’ve never looked back and have been doing the job for 17 years now. I also got married; I have a 4-year-old daughter and an 8-week-old son. He was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, which we first found at the 20-week scan.
I wasn’t surprised as I always knew there was a high possibility my children would be born with the condition. We were sent to a fetal medicine appointment for another scan. They told us that our son would only have one kidney as well. Because of the two defects, there was a possibility of an associated syndrome.
They asked whether we would like an amniocentesis, but we declined. I think I dealt with the news very well initially, but I think the reality of everything my son would have to go through then sank in. I was in a very low place for a while.
Luckily, I was in a much better place with a lot of support when my son arrived. I’m still worried about handing him over for his first surgery and being bullied in the future, but I think there is more awareness these days, and I will be there to support him every step.
It will be very different facing it all as a parent and watching my son go through it, but he has already shown us how strong he is.
Thank you to Stacey for sharing your story!
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