I have mentioned this before (here), and I think it’s obvious, but in case you don’t know, I was born with a bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate (you can read info from wikipedia HERE).
I had my mom dig up some old pictures and my dad took pictures of the pictures with his phone and sent them my way – so not the best quality, but anyways, a few baby pictures for you:
random, i poured my daughter into that same dress when she was a baby – it’s the dress that lives on my homemade cabbage patch doll…
anyways, back to the pictures- –
My grandma holding me – I had arm braces so that I wouldn’t touch my lip after various surgeries:
I don’t have any pictures of me before surgery – they operated right away, maybe a day old? I have had over a dozen operations as they tweak my lip and raise my nose. Maybe one a year til I was 12, and then one more when I was 15ish. That was one interesting – my plastic surgeon wanted my upper lip to be fuller, so he used part of my bottom lip – but for the graft to work, it had to be connected for a couple of weeks. So it meant that my mouth was sewed shut except for the corners. I lived on strawberry milkshakes and heated up V8 – anything that would go through a straw. Crazy, right?!?
So, a few recent pictures – you can see my scars, but if I were more of a makeup wearer, I think they’d be even less visible:
I can say that growing up, I knew I was like any other kid. I am grateful for the reconstructive surgery I was able to receive as a infant/toddler/child that gave me that opportunity. I can’t imagine not being able to meet that need for a child. Especially now as a parent, not being able to help your own child would be devastating. I probably should have had my mom write this post. Anyways…..
have you heard of Operation Smile?? straight from their website :
Operation Smile is an international children’s medical charity that heals children’s smiles, forever changing their lives.
We’re a mobilized force of medical professionals and caring hearts who provide safe, effective reconstructive surgery for children born with facial deformities such as cleft lip and cleft palate.
Every three minutes a child is born with a cleft — often unable to eat, speak, socialize or smile. In some places these children are shunned and rejected. And in too many cases, their parents can’t afford to give them the surgeries they need to live a normal life.
That’s where we come in as an international charity providing much needed surgical services. Since 1982, Operation Smile — through the help of dedicated medical volunteers — has provided more than 2 million patient evaluations and over 200,000 free surgeries for children and young adults born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.
As one of the most prominent children’s charities in the world and with a presence in over 60 countries, we are able to heal children’s smiles and bring hope for a better future.
now, I want to talk for a minute about CampusBookRentals – – what does that have to do with Operation Smile? well, CampusBookRentals donates to Operation Smile with each textbook rented.
if that alone isn’t enough reason to use them, here’s more:
-save 40-90% off of bookstore prices
-free shipping both ways
-can highlight in the textbooks
-flexible renting periods
for example, here’s a book that sells for over $200 but rents for about $50 – – it’s a no brainer! https://www.campusbookrentals.com/book/0495411302/Principles-of-Geotechnical-Engineering/Braja-M.-Das/9780495411307/
How does it work?:
so as you or those you know prepare for upcoming semesters, plan to use CampusBookRentals….
That’s awesome! I’ve always loved this organization too! I’ve been reading your blog for a little while now, and I had no idea about your story until just now…what a beautiful advocate you are! =)
I too have been reading your blog for a while and had no idea. I’ll pass this info onto my college age nieces and nephews.
Mandy, you are beautiful! I went to school with a girl with a cleft palate and lip. She, too, was a beauty! Just as a reminder to everyone, God doesn’t make junk! We are all made in His image!