In Your Own Words

A “Dream” come true

I was thrilled that my dream was going to come true. To have a dream come true after going through a big operation was truly the best part to end a painful procedure. I have never experienced a vacation that could beat this one. It was the best “Dream” ever.

Think positive whoever you are!

I was born with a birth defect which made everyone think that I would be weak and dying. But they were wrong; except one thing, I do have a birth defect. It makes me a very special and gifted child.

Parent’s Story – Kirby Vigneau-Murphy

Our son Owen is a very active three-year-old who just happened to be born with a unilateral cleft lip and palate. The youngest of our four children, he is also our only child born with a cleft lip and palate. I remember that even though we were experienced parents, we were very nervous about all the surgeries he would have to undergo when he was a baby.

Personal Story – Jennifer Dodwell

As someone who was born with hemifacial microsomia, I certainly had my fair share of surgeries and doctors appointments growing up. By the time I was fifteen, I had been through thirteen surgeries, or roughly one per summer. As I’m sure almost everyone reading this can relate to, surgeries are never pleasant or fun.

Preparing for the Hospital

Two weeks before the birth of Rob and Eva Higby’s son Brayden, a prenatal ultrasound scan revealed that he had a bilateral cleft lip. The first-time parents began searching for a surgical specialist, and with the help of Eva’s brother and sister-in-law, whose child also had a cleft lip, found Dr.Mulliken and his team at Children’s Hospital Boston. In November, when he was four and a half months old, Brayden had his lip repaired and nose reshaped.

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