In June 2026, the Conkey Family attended CCA’s Annual Family Retreat & Educational Symposium. Keep reading to see what they got up to!
We are a busy energetic family of five with three young boys Frankie (7), Wallie (5 ) and Howie (now almost 3!) and we can’t forget our puppy Daisie. Howie was diagnosed at 20 weeks with a
unilateral cleft lip and cleft palate.
As parents, I think we all want to absorb any hardships our children endure and relieve them. And as parents, we are also proud to see the resilience of our children and all they endure, accomplish and relish in. We are not sure how Howie will feel about his Cleft as he grows up, so we aim to surround
him with positivity and resources. We were grateful when our craniofacial team shared an opportunity to attend the 2026 Children’s Craniofacial Association Retreat in Orlando with scholarship support from Foundation for Faces of Children. This is not a retreat we would have been able to explore were it not for the support of FFC.
The warm welcome we received from the CCA community at the retreat was so grounding and uplifting. One of my favorite memories was the family meet and greet we went to on the first night. Our boys were a little shy, but the sweetest Mom opened a bin of trucks and cars she had brought from home and then everyone was playing together. We felt so welcomed at every interaction. If you ask the boys, their top highlights would for sure be the light saber training, swimming in the pool with new friends, breakfast bacon, elevator rides, meeting so many sweet therapy dogs, and table games!!
The breakout sessions were really special, offering focused time with other families relating to Howie’s specific diagnosis. With Howie being so little, it was really helpful to explore the layers of what could lay ahead for him and how we can continue to support him. What started out as a weekend of new faces, turned quickly into instant friendships. It was so meaningful to meet other families who understood; they didn’t need explanations and were just ready to play and relax together. One of the best gifts of the weekend was how much there was for big brothers, Wallie and Frankie, to dive into. There is so much patience they have held for their baby brother, and this retreat was truly meant for the whole family. It was so moving to be a part of it and connect with so many strong families and superhero kids. We feel stronger as a family for having attended and are incredibly grateful for the experience.
-The Conkey Family
