Cleft Lip / Palate Support Group

Hey there Sean- glad to have you. There's a great bunch of people here. Lots of support for whatever is going. And it's nice to know we aren't alone!

Hi Sean!

I have had a cleft lip and palate for all of my 61 years. It has not always been easy and as a matter of fact it has been down right dreary, at times! I choose to do the things that make me happy and that I enjoy. Most of the time anyhow. I have been married for 38 years to a great man who accepted me just the way I was. He even helped me through my last several surgeries. We cried together the day I got my braces off. We have three boys, who are the center of world and two daughters-in-law who are also the center of our world. If you count our five grand children, there are a total of ten amazing people at the center of our world and it keeps getting bigger because we have another grandchild on the way!

I want to tell you a funny story. When my youngest son was your age, they built a new pool at his high school. That meant no pool for a year. He had been a swimmer all of his life but that year his swim coach became one of the track coaches, so he became a member of the track team. At the time he was 5'2", and 115 pounds, soaking wet. Since he was a good sport and there was no one who would throw shot put, coach asked my son. I stared in disbelief as my son told me what he would be doing that day.

The team was competing in the high rent district and kids were laughing when they saw my son, in line to throw. He was not only the shortest man on the field, but the shortest man in the arena. Since he knew he stood no chance of winning, he decided to put on a show. He was and is, a very good actor and a jokester. When his turn came, he stepped up, got his shot and did all of the cool moves that a shot putter does. He really played it up. After a minute of that he really had people going and buzzing that this guy really knew what he was doing. He approached the line with great confidence and poise. The crowd watched as he went through his moves to prepare and were cheering as he got ready to throw the heaviest baseball, he'd ever seen! He did the classic moves and turns and hurled it through the air! The guys with the measuring tape, yelled seven feet two inches! The crowd of teens who had gathered around laughed and cheered as the ball dropped. Every time my son through the shot for the rest of the season he had a cheering squad. He knew he couldn't compete, although he did make team points, but he knew how to entertain.

I learned a lot from that track season. We can't be the best at everything but we can be our best and have a little fun, if we have enough confidence.

He also ran the mile and was very good at it, although he didn't have much of a cheering squad for that one! Anyone can be a good runner but it takes a nut to convince people that a little guy could throw a shot put! It was a lesson that life can be what we make of it. He grew to be a giant of man, all 5'7" inches of him and has taught me so much about confidence!

Hi Sean, welcome. This site is great for people like us! It's like a secret support group. So anyways what's your story?

Well I'm a 16 year old from Rhode Island. I'm going into my junior year. I like throw in track and field. I like animals, the beach, and hanging out with my family.

Cool I'm 16 too! And becoming a junior. I'm in cheer, but don't assume I'm a mean person because of it. So how does your birth defect affect your life?

I don't see myself being different from anybody else. It's just that sometime when I speak I stutter and have to stop and recollect myself. Haha what about you?

I wrote that long story about my short son and never asked about you! LOL I assume you are a big guy if you throw, in track. What do you do during the summer?

It has had a tremendous affect on my life. I've been through things that would send most people howling to the nut house. Now my life is terrific though :) But I'm happy your life is better and happier. You're one of the lucky ones and don't you forget it ! :D