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I am Marina and my son was born with a complete unilateral cleft lip and palate. On my son’s 1st birthday, we felt proud — the NAM, surgeries — phew, we had been through so much as a family. But we also felt a tinge of disappointment. Despite extensive research, we frequently felt like we were on our back foot — often finding the right information a week or two after we needed it. We spent so much of our son’s first year researching and problem solving — rather than engaging with him and enjoying this precious time.
My hope in creating this space is to equip future cleft parents with the practical parenting tips & tricks involved in raising a cleft baby, with the goal of helping families thrive in their child’s first year.
"My dream is that every parent feels knowledgeable, empowered, and never alone on the cleft journey.
When I was navigating the first 18 months, I often wished someone could share their parenting tips & tricks. So much of parenting is learned through family & friends, but when your child is born with a cleft, that built-in support network often isn't there.
I didn't want other parents to learn everything the hard way or feel like they were always on their back foot. So, I created Behind the Smile to be the friend I wished I had -- someone who's been through it, who understands, and who can help you feel a little more confident, a little more prepared, and a lot less alone."Â
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