Tagged with: Adult Stories

  • Viktoria’s Story

    14 Mar 2018

    I was bullied at primary school and the other students would tease me about my cleft, or ask lots of questions. As I got older, I learned not to take it personally and overcame other people’s reactions. I started to see it as curiosity as I became more comfortable in my own skin.

  • Dave Z’s Story

    8 Mar 2018

    My name is Dave Z. I was recently asked by the Cleft Lip & Palate association (CLAPA) to share my story about growing up and dealing with the issues surrounding the condition. At first I was unsure whether to go for it as its not something I usually talk about, If anything I try to avoid thinking about it.

  • Michael’s Story

    7 Jan 2018

    I was born in the Netherlands in September 1998 with a severe bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate. Compared to the UK, there are a much lower percentage of babies born with a cleft in the Netherlands. Mine was one of the more severe cases.

  • Karen’s Story

    6 Jan 2018

    Karen was born in 1952 with a cleft lip and palate. Here in her own words she tells her story of growing up with a cleft, and returning to treatment as an adult.

  • CLAPA News 2017

    8 Dec 2017

    Welcome to our 28th annual magazine, packed full of stories and updates from all sectors of the CLAPA Community. Read it now online or order your paper copy.

  • Jenny’s Story

    6 Dec 2017

    I was born with a right unilateral cleft lip and palate in 1981 at King’s College Hospital in London. Back then, scans were not readily available, meaning my mum wasn’t aware that I was going to be born with a cleft. She told me that once that, when I was born and she held me, she noticed something on my lip thinking it was a bit of blood from the birth. She later realised it wasn’t that, but a cleft.

  • #FundraisingFriday – The Great North Swim

    30 Nov 2017

    "I was born with a cleft lip and palate myself and have been aware for many years of the great work that CLAPA performs. As CLAPA is a small charity, I felt the need to raise the profile (as well as donations) and bring awareness to the challenges faced by individuals with this condition."

  • Dan’s Story

    28 Sep 2016

    It’s 2005 and I’m 18 years old. Currently, I’m an elevator with my family, leaving the hospital after surgery. I’ve had little-to-no sleep and (as a result of the dentofacial osteotomy) my jaws are wired shut. Almost spontaneously, I burst out crying.

  • Can’t take my eyes off you

    16 Sep 2016

    OK, so let’s be honest, being stared at isn’t great and when someone stares, it is, above all, an invasion of privacy.

  • Adult Voices and Volunteers

    8 Jun 2016

    On the 8th day of National Volunteers Week, we're hearing from some of our volunteers on the Adult Voices Council about what motivates them to be involved with CLAPA.