My husband Andy and I found out our eldest daughter, Audrey, had a cleft lip on the day she was born. Despite her being a beautiful baby girl, I remember in those early days we felt isolated and unsure about what her future held. We had barely even heard of a cleft lip before, and didn't really feel prepared about what to expect.
Luckily for us, the doctors and staff at Akron Children's Hospital Craniofacial Center helped us through our journey with all of Audrey's surgeries and her follow up care. We had our middle child, Annette, born without issues, followed by the birth of our son, Anderson, whom we found out 16 weeks in utero, would be born with a cleft lip and palate. Those early days were hard, but once again Akron Children's was there for us and guided us through Anderson's early surgeries when he was born with great results. Anderson had to have tubes placed in his ears that have since been removed. We still have a few more surgeries for Anderson in his future, mostly orthodontic, palate and minor reconstructive work, if needed.
I hope to help parents and caregivers of children with clefts because we found it extremely helpful to speak with a (since retired) staff member of the Craniofacial Center, who also had a son born with a cleft lip and palate. She was very helpful and a wonderful listener. I look forward to providing the same level care as a parent mentor for children and their families and caregivers in similar situations.
Amy is a parent mentor for these conditions: Cleft Lip and Palate.
Amy is a mentor for these care services: Allergy, Ear Nose Throat (ENT), Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Surgery
