Medical Info
CLAPA has parent contacts all over the UK, who can offer personal knowledge of the difficulties that can be faced by new parents of babies born with a cleft lip and/or palate.
If you would like to talk to someone you are welcome to call or email any parent contact directly. If you prefer, CLAPA will call them on your behalf and the parent contact will get in touch with you.
Just ring us on 020 7833 4883 or email with your preference and contact details.
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Anita Swales
I have a daughter born with Pierre Robin sequence. I enjoy playing the piano and swimming.
Location: Northampton T: 01604 230675 E: -
Carole Tuck
I'm Carole, married to Dave. We have 2 gorgeous girls, Jaimee born in 1998 (non-cleft) and little Molly born in 2006 almost 2 months premature with a full cleft of the secondary palate. Our broad range of experiences include NG tube feeding (9months) and 6 surgeries including 2 palate repairs and 2 sets of grommets. Molly has a severe speech delay and issues with feeding. I work part-time at a local Preschool, enjoy a nice glass of Rose wine, stomping around on the beach in all weathers, reading and watching anything that isn't on cbeebies!
Location: Ely, Cambridgeshire T: 07737 808684 E: -
Kim Pieczka
I am Kim, married to Robert (born with a cleft lip and palate) and we have two lovely daughters. Lara aged 12 (non cleft) and Claudia aged 9 born with a unilateral cleft lip and palate which was diagnosed at the 20 week scan. My hobbies include reading, cooking and going for walks. We also have a cat called Willow.
Location: Northamptonshire T: 07765 633901 E: -
Lynsey McClelland “Lyns”
I have a daughter born in 2005 with a cleft of both the hard and soft palate. I am married to Craig and we have two children named Lucy (Born in Sept 2005 with a cleft of the hard & soft palate with Pierre Robin Sequence) & Callum (born in Nov 2009). We have 2 dogs who like long walks!! I like to try to keep fit by going to the gym, jogging, mountain climbing and walking.
Location: Lincolnshire T: 07872 833210 E: -
Marianne Ryan
Hello, my name is Marianne and I live in Peterborough. I am married to Paul and we have a daughter called Jessica who was born in 2010 with Pierre Robin Sequence. We didn't know about our daughter's condition until she was born, when she had breathing difficulties and was rushed away to SCBU at Peterborough Hospital. Her condition was so severe that she had to be on her front at all times as otherwise she stopped breathing. She was also fed via a NG feeding tube for 6 months and we had several issues with weaning. Despite her tough start, Jessica had her cleft palate repaired at 1 year old, and is now a lively little girl full of character. She has hearing problems in both her ears but is otherwise doing well. I work part time for the Environment Agency, and enjoy chasing my girl around soft play areas and chilling with a good book.
Location: Peterborough T: 07715 710267 E: -
Sam McCann
Specialist contact for Alveolar Bone Grafting: Sam has a daughter born with cleft lip & palate
Location: East Anglia T: 01263 734418 E:
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Heather Pownall
I enjoy cooking, especially baking cupcakes, that the children soon devour! I like going to the cinema to see a good old “RomCom” – nothing scary! I love reading in my “spare” time....my tastes are very diverse. I always have the radio on and like my reading, my musical tastes are equally diverse and eclectic. I have a dog called Poppy, who I love to bits, and a cat called Zak who is 18, and finally a fish called Batman Jnr. I am quite partial to a glass or two of Pinot Grigio, and my family is the most important thing in my life!
Location: Thundersley, Essex T: 01702 555267 E: -
Jane Hughes
My son was born with a cleft lip & palate. I’m a full-time mother to two teenage boys so my job title is chauffeur, cook, laundrymaid, waitress, nurse, gardener etc etc! I like walking, gardening, eating out and ballroom dancing.
Location: London T: 0208 518 8660 E: -
Sally Huggins
Sally has a child born with cleft lip and palate
Location: London T: 07595 548 927 E:
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Sue Clubley
Has a son with cleft lip and palate.
Location: Hull T: 01964 650 421 E:
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Liz Wallace
Has a son born with bilateral cleft lip & palate
Location: Belfast T: 07870 880720 E:
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Carla Butler
Has a daughter with a unilateral cleft lip and palate.
Location: Shevington, Wigan T: 0753 4525 696 E: -
Lisa Boden
I have a daughter with a cleft of the soft palate and Chromosome 22q11 Deletion Syndrome. I enjoy days out with my family and muddy walks in the countryside. I run a support group in Preston for families whose children are affected by cleft.
Location: Preston, Lancashire T: 01772 745 402 E: -
Louise Judge
I have a son born in 2002 with a cleft palate and Pierre Robin Sequence. I like to watch football, go out to concerts and holiday abroad.
Location: Merseyside T: 01744 810581 E: -
Michaela Lefley
I have a son, born in 2002, with a cleft palate. I enjoy family holidays, and days out with my husband and two boys to the seaside or in the country. I also enjoy listening to music, going to the cinema with the family and eating out.
Location: Manchester T: 0161 2881571 E: -
Sarah Thomas
My name is Sarah, I’m 34 years old, married and have two daughters aged 5 and 2. My eldest, Erin, was born with a bilateral complete cleft lip and palate. I enjoy cooking, meeting with friends, walking the dog (Meg a Springer Spaniel) and spending time with my family.I also enjoy music (listening to and playing it) and reading – although I haven’t had the chance to get my teeth into anything recently other than childrens books!!
Location: Llanbedrgoch T: 01248 450486 E:
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Valerie Stewart
Parent of a child born with unilateral cleft lip & palate
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland T: 01467 629435 E: -
Wendy Tully
Parent of a child born with cleft lip & palate
Location: Dalkeith, Scotland T: 0131 6633677 E:
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Barry Hancock
I like cooking, going to the movies and spending time with the family. I am happily married to Tracey and we have Elliot who was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate.
Location: Surrey T: 01483 275672 E: -
Kerry Dwyer
Has a daughter born with cleft lip & palate
Location: Surrey E: -
Melanie Polczynski
I have 2 daughters with clefts, one with a unilateral incomplete cleft lip and one with a unilateral incomplete cleft lip and palate. I was also born with a cleft.
Location: Surrey T: 07718 907882 E: -
Patricia Chiswell
I work as a staff nurse on a childrens ward. I have 8 grandchildren and my eldest grandson has a bilateral cleft lip and palate. I love to do cross stitch in my spare time along with reading when I get a chance. I feel I am easy to get on with and would love the chance to help another family with a child with a cleft lip/palate or even a family member like myself.
Location: Farnborough, Hampshire T: 01252 540405 E: -
Sarah Goodwin
Has a daughter with a cleft of the soft palate.
Location: Kent T: 01634 318975 E:
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Natalie Rigg
I have a son born with a cleft lip & palate. I'm passionate about Rugby - watching my two boys and daughter play, and supporting Bristol Rugby Team. I'm also partial to the odd glass or two of Cava with my girl friends.
Location: South West T: 0117 9245445 E: -
Rachel Kellar
I'm married to Adrian and we have a son and daughter. Ollie was diagnosed during pregancy at our 20 week scan (cleft lip & alveolus), and has had surgery for his lip repair, and later bone graft - orthodontics next! My time is taken up working with pre-school children (something I've stumbled into but very much enjoy) dog walking our two border terriers and looking after our home. I love to get away to the coast as often as possible, interiors magazines, and spending time with family & friends.
Location: Chepstow, Gwent T: 07754 760 860 E: -
Sarah Bennett
I am a mother of two children, my son was born with unilateral cleft lip and bilateral palate. I love being out walking with my family, cooking and using computers.
Location: West Glamorgan T: 01639 794145 E:
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Lauren King
Hi, I have two children Elsie, 3 and Owen 1. My eldest, Elsie was born in 2006 with a Cleft Palate and Pierre Robin Sequence. We have recently relocated from Essex to Bournemouth and I love being near the sea. I enjoy running, reading, and spending time with my family and friends.
Location: Bournemouth T: 07984861222 E: -
Tracey Boyall
I have a son, Nathan, born in 2005 with a cleft of the soft palate. Nathan has two younger sisters, Hannah and Clara. As a family, we enjoy getting out in the fresh air, on our bikes, walking round the woods, or to the park. I work part time as a Snowboard Instructor and I also love mountain biking and generally keeping fit.
Location: Milton Keynes T: 01908 867984 E:
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Harry Feather
Dad to Jacob, born with a unilateral cleft lip and palate. I enjoy spending as much time as possible with my family, playing chess, reading and watching rugby and cricket. I love listening to music and watching my son 'dancing!'
Location: Sheffield T: 07875 468 103 E: -
Jackie Isherwood
Specialist contact for Stickler Syndrome: I have two sons born in 1983 and 1985 with Stickler Syndrome (with which I have also been diagnosed) including a Pierre Robin type cleft palate. I enjoy swimming, Pilates and am learning to play the piano (badly)!
Location: Lincolnshire T: 01522 884884 E: -
Ruth Feather
I'm mum to Jacob who was born in September 2007 with a unilateral cleft lip and palate. I like to knit and read books when I get a chance, and know the names of all the Thomas the Tank Engine trains!
Location: Sheffield T: 077 7903 4790 E:
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Dena Corden-Lepetit
My daughter Niamh is now five, we had an antenatal diagnosis of cleft lip and submucous cleft palate at twenty weeks confirmed at twenty two. I have an older son, Oliver who has no cleft.
Location: Staffordshire T: 07838942590 E: -
Karen Robertson
I am married to Lewis and and we have three children. Our eldest, Fiona, was born with a uni-lateral Cleft Lip and Palate. I am a Primary School Teacher in Birmingham. My interests are reading, pilates, walking and going on holiday.
Location: Birmingham T: 0121 6821450 E:
