Tagged with:Your Stories
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Stavroulla’s Story
"Why does your lip have a funny shape?" The question got me thinking, mostly about my smile and myself. I found it intriguing how a child’s brain works, as there’s no filter. Of course the question took me aback, but I simply answered as best I could with a reply of ‘everyone is born differently, these differences are what makes us unique and special’.
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Jemma and Casper’s Story
As Caspar's first birthday approaches, Jemma reflects on the past year, and on her and Casper's journey ahead.
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Paul’s Story
Now as an adult I can go a couple of years without even giving my cleft a passing thought. Yes, it is a part of who I am - but only a small part. I am a person with a cleft lip. But I am also a person with two amazing children. I am also a person who cycles, who plays badminton, who develops websites, who is very tall, who is an only child, who sings in a choir. No one thing defines me.
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Georgina’s Story
Overall, I’ve found growing up with a cleft lip and gum difficult. I’ve felt really down and insecure about it at times. However I’ve realised it’s OK to be different. I don’t need a smaller nose or perfect shaped lips to be happy. I’ve become more accepting of myself and my scars. I’m trying to stop hiding behind makeup and my bad habit of covering my mouth when talking to people. I’m trying to love myself for the way I am.
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Awareness Week 2018: Jenny’s Story
“I love the person I’ve become because I fought to become her.” Find out more about how cleft lip and palate affects adults, and what CLAPA is doing to help.
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Awareness Week 2018: Roannah’s Story
Phoebe's cleft lip and palate has never really much of a problem for her - she has embraced all that she was born with, and has pursued her love of drama and the performing arts since the age of 7.
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Awareness Week 2018: Katie’s Story
"One of the toughest things about having a child with cleft is knowing that when they are under one year old you will have to take them into a hospital to have surgery. They will have to have general anaesthetic, to endure hours on the operating table..[i]t is a real challenge for you as a new parent, and something that we wouldn’t wish on anyone."
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Awareness Week 2018: Hannah’s Story
In the corner of the room with all the machines of tiny babies beeping, the nurses chatting in the background, the only people in the room are me and my amazing little boy.
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Awareness Week 2018: Louise’s Story
My husband and close family were amazing and were such a good support network, but nothing could help with my worrying. I hated my pregnancy, hated everything about it. I couldn't get excited about anything...I was very worried what others were going to think and whether they would blame us. I couldn’t tell anyone how I truly felt as I didn't think anyone understood.
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Keeley’s Story
As soon as I was born I was whisked away from my parents...I had something “wrong” with my lip. My dad (who had himself been born with a cleft lip in 1955) asked if I had a cleft lip. The nurse nodded and my dad just asked if he could hold me. The nurse noticed my dad’s scars and realised he understood exactly what was going on.
