Tagged with:Your Stories

  • 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.

  • Kirsty’s Story

    1 Feb 2018

    It can be hard to know what to expect when your child is waiting for surgery. Kirsty got in touch to share her experience with her son, and explain what's changed for them.

  • 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.

  • Karla and Kelsie’s Story

    6 Jan 2018

    When I was expecting Kelsie, the doctors told me and her dad that if she survived birth, they could only give her an expected eight week life span. Well, she’s proved doctors wrong! She’s a little fighter.

  • Kevin and JJ’s Story

    14 Dec 2017

    Thank you so much to Kevin and JJ who raised an amazing total of £149.25 (including gift) for CLAPA!

  • 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.

  • World Smile Day – Sophie, Jadie, and Ivy

    29 Sep 2017

    Ivy was born with an undiagnosed bilateral cleft lip and palate, the most severe cleft you can have. It was a huge shock, but after a few weeks of talking to the amazing cleft team at the hospital, receiving support from the CLAPA Charity and spending time with my beautiful girl, the shock slowly disappeared and we started to forget that she was different to other babies.

  • Dylan’s Story

    6 Sep 2017

    Hi, I’m Dylan and I was born with a Cleft lip and Palate, I am 10. I had my first two operations done when I was 3 and 6 months old, I don’t remember them obviously. I had my bone graft operation done in the Queen Elizabeth hospital in March 2017.

  • Isaac’s Story

    16 Jun 2017

    Isaac arrived on 19th October 2008, a week late, but we seemed to have a healthy first child. Everything was new to us; breastfeeding, sleeping (or lack of), settling him. We left hospital assuming everything was fine. I wanted to feed him myself, however when we got home the problems started.