Tagged with:Your Stories

  • My Volunteer Story: Sarah Dennis

    13 Sep 2013

    In September 2012 I completed the one day official volunteer course in Bristol and met some amazing people who I still regularly speak to now. I like to think of CLAPA as a family, we all support each other, share our highs and our lows and offer encouragement and advice to each other.

  • The Hancock’s story

    17 Mar 2013

    "The operator told us that our baby had a cleft lip and that this maybe associated with some syndromes that may mean that the baby may not survive. The whole thing was handled rather badly. We left the hospital in a state of shock and little information."

  • Emily’s Story

    1 Mar 2013

    "We were delighted to discover we were expecting our second child in the summer of 2011. I had a fairly straightforward pregnancy and normal scans throughout. Our daughter Isabelle was born on 21st April 2012 at 00.52AM, coming quite unexpectedly on her due date. Her birth was very fast and when they handed her to me I couldn't believe how tiny she was at 5lb 9oz.

  • My Volunteer Story: Maria Blackhurst

    13 Jan 2013

    You have to keep in the back of your mind that you can put the family in contact with people who can help and to hear or read those lovely words, ‘thank you,’ is the best reward you can receive.

  • An Adventure in Suffolk

    19 Oct 2012

    CLAPA Camp Adventure By Jenny Lancaster It is very nerve-wracking going somewhere you haven’t been to before, I admit: curiosity certainly killed my cat. But I knew that I was in for a good time –just look at all the new friends I made and you’ll see what I mean!!

  • Jemma’s Story

    13 Feb 2012

    My pregnancy was being hijacked! It wasn't the enjoyable experience I would have liked in fact it made me feel very depressed and angry I often wondered ‘why me?’ but I had to pull myself together as it wasn't just the OC and cleft to worry about, I had my beautiful little girl to look after.

  • Jayne’s Story

    13 Dec 2011

    Jayne's dad was born with a cleft lip, but it didn't cross her mind that it might affect her own children until her son Charley was born and she discovered he had one too.

  • Jessica at 6 months old with mum Marianne

    Marianne Ryan’s Story

    18 Jun 2011

    These early days were incredibly difficult as my husband and I struggled with her condition. She couldn’t use many of the things we had bought for her, such as car seats, bouncers and baby slings. This sounds so trivial now but was heart-breaking at the time as we realised that we had a baby with special needs.

  • Sarah’s Story

    13 Mar 2011

    We fell in love with everything about Lucas, his cleft just made him more unique to us.

  • Leah’s Story

    2 Feb 2011

    Although she did look very different and her cleft was very wide she had beautiful big blue eyes and lovely wisps of fair hair, she was perfect to me.