July is National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month
This Spring our family was delighted to learn our Princess would have a surgery free Summer. This is a first for us. A little calm before the storm of orthodontics that will hit our household in the next few years. It is a chance to reflect on the amazing progress that has already been completed, but it is hard…no, it’s excruciatingly hard…to contemplate what will be happening in the future-but it’s part of the journey…hers and ours. We are grateful for that
Sometime, in the early stages of our adoption journey, my husband and I had to make the difficult decision as to what special need child files we would be open to review. With the average wait of 6 years and climbing for “healthy” girls from China, the special needs program offered a shorter wait and often included very minor or correctable needs.
After much prayer we listed the needs we felt we could manage and waited for God to put his plan into action. Flash forward about 6 months and we received that highly anticipated phone call and email file! As I gazed at that beautiful face I noticed her big brown eyes and smooth skin, her adorable ears and her gentle hands…I did not even notice her unrepaired unilateral complete cleft…it just did not matter, she was our baby.
Our Princess was 20 months old and living in the remote mountains of Northern China.
But what is a cleft palate/lip? A cleft is a gap in the mouth that didn’t close during the early stages of pregnancy, and this kind of birth defect happens more often than you may realize. It is estimated that, worldwide, a child is born every 3 minutes with a cleft — about one in 500-750 births. Sometimes a cleft condition can be easy to see because it’s an opening in the lip. Sometimes it’s harder to tell if someone has a cleft because it’s an opening in the roof of their mouth (called the palate.)
There are many risk factors that can increase the likelihood of birth defects. While some causes are still unknown, genetics and family history, pre-existing medical conditions, poor nutrition and exposure to harmful environmental substances can affect the healthy development of a baby. As a result, these factors could also be the cause of a baby born with a cleft lip or cleft palate. We will never know why it happened, but we will never know where her outstanding fine motor skills and dimples came from either…and that’s OK.
Our Princess after we met her in China, already charming her Mama and Baba
Cleft lip and cleft palate can be repaired through a series of surgeries and orthondontics. While it can be corrected, it really is not an “easy fix”…despite what you may see in Operation Smile advertising. Our brave girl has had 3 major surgeries and some pretty extensive speech therapy with quite a few more surgeries in her future…continuing into her young adulthood.
Her first surgery at Johns Hopkins
She is a spunky bright little girl who charms everyone she meets. She is opinionated and sassy with a flair for the dramatic. Her empathy has no limits. She is our joy and we are humbled and honored that God has entrusted her into our care. It really is a miracle.
Inspire me Monday. Tuesday at our house. Inspire me Tuesday. Make it pretty. Made by you. Metamorphosis. You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Talk Of The town. Keep in touch.Party in your pjs. Wednesday blog hop. Your whim. Share your style. Home and garden. Waste not. Grandma’s House DIY. Friday features .Friendship Friday . Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home. Pit Stop. Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Best of the weekend. Create bake grow. . Fresh market. Faith and family. Snickerdoodle. Happiness is homemade. Saturday shuffle.Create with joy. Over the MoonCreatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesdaycelebrate your story Little cottage
A Day of Small Things... 
This little one has brought much joy to many of us. Bless your Family.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She is a real bundle of joy.
LikeLike
♥️🌹
Peter & Sheryl Morris gmamorris8@gmail.com
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love seeing your princess growing up—ours (same age) won’t open mouth smile because she is missing three teeth now in front…the first trauma of being 6 going on 7. Princess is adorable and she always has a beautiful smile..and a twinkle in her eye!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The teeth is wiggling left and right. I love the gappy grin of a first grader.
LikeLike
What a lovely post. Thank you for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a precious little girl! You are so lucky to have found each other. thank you for sharing your story with us. I have enjoyed seeing her pictures in your blog posts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A match made in heaven.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing your story! She is beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, she is precious. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I really learned a lot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Omgoodness she is gorgeous xx…thank you for sharing….#SeniSal
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, my name is crystal and I come to you from Esme’s Senior Salon. Oh what a bold and great post. What a difference a smile makes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you stopped by.
LikeLike
She is such a lil beauty and looks like a very sweet child. Thanks for sharing your story, it was really
precious. God bless you both as her parents.
Blessings,
Nellie
LikeLiked by 1 person
She can be a handful but I wouldn’t change a thing!
LikeLike
What a beautiful child. So precious. Thank you for sharing your families story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am going to echo what Eunice said about the Princess having bought so much joy to many of us. Wishing you all strength and patience on the road ahead. God bless you all!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so happy to share her…thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My son was born with a cleft lip and palate, too. I completely understand the freedom of a surgery-free summer! It was nice to actually use vacation time to actually take a vacation! lol I showed my son this blog post, he’s nine and just had his bone graft surgery and started braces. Your daughter is beautiful! Thank you for sharing her gorgeous smile!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! We are headed toward bone graft surgery in the next year or so. I am always encouraged to hear from families a little ahead of us…it makes it easier.
LikeLike
OMG What a lovely post
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
A tough road – but your daughter is adorable.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She is one tough cookie
LikeLike
What a lovely post about your journey! One of my dear friends also adopted a daughter from China with a cleft palate, just last year. I am so grateful for people like you who will extend your love and care to the neediest among us. Bless you all!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is such a great privilege to have this beautiful blessing from God in our home. The journey isn’t always easy but it is joyful.
LikeLike
This post and your princess made my heart smile. Blessings
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
Beautiful girl and lucky family! I’m also a mom to a cleft-affected kiddo who hails from China ❤️ and we’ve had a similar surgery/therapy journey. My son has had three surgeries & is awaiting ortho at now seven years old. Thanks for sharing your story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I’m always encouraged to hear from other Moms on the journey with me. They are truly a blessing aren’t they!
LikeLike
She’s a doll, not matter where in the journey! I look forward to you sharing your steps through the process. We have dear friends that adopted from China, with the same special needs issue. 🙂 They are all doing well, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think God has blessed the Cleft kids with extra spunk and courage. She is a marvel to us. Her care is involved but the outstanding team at John Hopkins make such a difference. I am always happy to hear of others who also have cleft. They are mighty.
LikeLike
You, and your princess must be so happy to have no surgeries this summer – may all her future procedures go smoothly! Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJ’s!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. It is a tough fight for her but she is quite brave and spunky. She is our joy!
LikeLike
Posts here always inspire me, and this one takes the prize! Thanks for sharing the princess’s story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. She is a treasure to us and I love her very much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She is a beautiful princess and a true blessing. Her tale is woven with threads of love. She is a joy we can all celebrate with you. Hugs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. She continues to bless us each and every day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She’s beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. We think so as well. What a blessing!
LikeLike