INSPIRATIONAL VIDEOS/POSTS/PAGES

Some of the links posted are made by cleft charities. Cleft lips and/or palates are thought to be rare occurrences, in the UK the number stands at 1 in 700 which is around 1000 children each year. I know that countries such as the UK and America have amazing health care systems. But alot of countries don't, most family's can save all month and still not be able to eat ok for a week. Never mind travel and pay for health care for a condition so easily fixed. Charities such as The Smile Train and Operation Smile fundraise so that children and adults alike can have the surgery they need to survive and thrive.


https://www2.smiletrain.org.uk/powerofasmile/donate-now-i/


http://www.operationsmile.org.uk/


http://www.viralnova.com/smile-first-time/
The above link shows a Childs cleft lip transformation thanks to Operation Smile.


https://m.facebook.com/?_rdr#!/MyNameIsLentil?slog=405&seq=854598052&rk=5&fbtype=274


http://www.viralnova.com/lentil-the-special-needs-dog
The above 2 links are about a French bulldog who was born with a cleft palate.


http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q1lueFu5TZI
The above link shows what a difference fundraising for The Smile Train can make.


http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nDl75-FmZfo
the above link is about a child called Christian Buchanan

Happy 4th Birthday Baby Girl

Monday 1st September was Lilis 4th birthday. She had a tea party the day before with her cousins and friend, and she was totally surprised by the surprise her dad and I got her a CAT!

LOOKING BACK

Its unbelievable that 3 years ago in 15 days time that is, Lili finally had her first cleft surgery. All the waiting and anxiety was over, and i realised exactly what other parents had warned me about. I feel now that i can talk about my feelings about this surgery although most people would raise their eyebrows at the fact im being open dispite the fact that its the truth and alot of parents have felt the same even if they denied it to others. I hated the fact that i allowed Lili to have the surgery and i hated the baby that Lili became because of the surgery and i hated the surgery itself. I hated that i allowed the surgery to happen because it was to make her look "more normal" and she looked normal to me i loved her wide smile and 3 years on i desperately miss it. I hate the surgery its self because she didn't look like my baby anymore, 3 years on shes become her own person shes taken on actual features of both me and her dad aswell as extended family and shes got her own features too. And i hated the baby that Lili became because of the surgery because id grown to enjoy her sleeping through, the fact she almost never cried, Lili enjoyed sitting on her own and playing allowing me to do things on my own. After the surgery she cried almost non-stop i wasn't able to do a thing without her being on my hip and she was up and down every other hour. And it wasn't just after the surgery and because she was in pain it continued long after even now 3 years on im unable to lift a finger with her knowing and im not exaggerating. Although she has finally grew out of crying non-stop which is a relief even if it has changed to some rather annoying questions of where are you going and what are you doing if i so much as fidget.