Wide Smiles

I understand we have a few new "Likers" on here, so I want to welcome everybody again. There are a few new developments to share.... First, September is being hailed as Craniofacial Awareness Month -- we have alwys thought of that as July, actually. I recommend a few different ways to acknowledge it. 1) grab your copy of Lippy the Lion (or purchase one from Amazon) and offer to read it at a local school or library reading time. Thumper works well too and gives you a chance to talk about bullying. 2) make a donation that will make a difference. Operation Smile or Smile Train both conduct free surgeries for kids with cleft in third world countries. ACPCA conducts cleft research. Wide Smiles, frankly, does not cost a lot to maintain, nor would any group that offers only a website and a list serv. 3) Put a picture of your lchild online both before and after -- with your child's consent, of course. Ok, in another post, I will update everyone on my family -- much has happened in the past ferw months, not all cleft related.... but isn't thwt what hs happened with out families? As they grew up we have become less cleft-related and more just family. :)

Have you seen the movie The Lone Ranger? If so, did you see the villain's face? Was that an unrepaired cleft lip? My eyesight is poor, but that is what I thought I saw.... what do you all say?

I remember many yrs ago on Cleft Talk, the question was. hving had a chid with a cleft, would you consider another( (and many of us went on to have others, some of us having others with cleft. Now the question to me is not about having (or dopting) another with cleft, but rather. gramdlods/ The probability is there, yes.. but I'm teling yu, I so look forward to grandkids -- and if they are born with cleft, i will be there to help my child and his wife deal with the issues. Anyone else geen there yet? Given it some thought? If so, does your answer differ now from what it once did?

Most of us here have been arouind a while. Our kids are through or mostly through the process. I want, though, to be of value here to newer parents as well. We have the benefit of perspective to offer them. Let me throw a question out there. When your child was new - what were your biggest fears, and how have they turned out for you?