Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo

Brooklyn joins Our Forever Smiles to share her experience as a cleft mom navigating diagnosis, surgery, and motherhood with resilience and honesty. She opens up about the emotional ups and downs of the cleft journey and the importance of community support. This episode centers on growth, advocacy, and learning to trust yourself as a parent. A comforting and relatable conversation for moms at any stage of the cleft journey. Links: Buy Us a Coffee FB Support Group

In this inspiring episode, Laura speaks with Charlotte, a 17-year-old cleft-affected individual and the creator of Stitches by Charlotte. Born with a cleft lip and palate, Charlotte shares her lived experience and how she began creating surgery companion dolls to help children feel seen and supported. She also discusses advocacy, confidence, and using her voice to create change in the cleft community. This conversation is a reminder of the power of representation and lived experience. Links: Stitches by Charlotte Buy Us a Coffee FB Support Group

Jessica shares her story of becoming a first-time mom and learning about her child's cleft palate after birth, followed by an unexpected NICU stay. She reflects on the shock, fear, and isolation that came with leaving the hospital without her baby. This episode highlights the emotional realities of NICU life, navigating a cleft palate diagnosis, and finding strength in the hardest moments. A powerful listen for parents facing medical trauma and uncertainty. Links: Buy Us a Coffee FB Support Group

In this special solo episode, Laura Arroyo sits down to reflect on the past year of the OFS Podcast and share an honest, behind-the-scenes look at where we are and where we're headed. Laura highlights the conversations that made an impact, the lessons learned, and the themes emerging from our community. She also offers a sneak peek at upcoming topics, new initiatives, and how we're continuing to elevate support for women, moms, and families. Whether you're a longtime listener or just tuning in, this episode is a heartfelt, transparent update on the journey so far—and an exciting look at what's next. Links: Buy me a Coffee

In this returning episode, Laura Arroyo sits down with Brittnie Hampson to continue the conversation about life after a surprise cleft palate diagnosis. Brittnie shares an honest look at raising her two-year-old daughter, Ava, and how her journey has evolved since her last appearance on the podcast. She opens up about the emotional shift from confidently breastfeeding her first two children to learning entirely new ways to feed a cleft-affected baby, and the steep learning curve that came with it. Brittnie also shares how she's turned her experience into advocacy by educating nurses through "lunch and learn" sessions, helping medical teams better support cleft families from day one. She reflects on what she expected after Ava's surgery versus the realities of life after surgery, offering encouragement, validation, and practical insight for families navigating similar paths. This episode is filled with honesty, growth, and hope for anyone walking the cleft journey. Links: Buy me a Coffee

Laura Arroyo talks with Dr. Richard Kirschner and Catherine Bingham about the Magical Moments Foundation, a wish-granting organization for children with facial differences. Brought to you by the ACPA — the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association, supporting interdisciplinary cleft and craniofacial teams. Links and Resources: Magical Moments Nomination Form Buy Me a Coffee

Laura Arroyo sits down with Dr. Renie Daniel, a fellowship-trained, dual-degree, board-certified cleft and craniofacial surgeon in Minneapolis and director of the University of Minnesota Cleft and Craniofacial Team. Dr. Daniel shares what inspired her to pursue cleft care, her favorite surgeries, and how her multidisciplinary team works together to educate, advocate, and empower children and adults with facial differences — all to ensure the best outcomes for families across Minnesota. Links and Resources: University of MN Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic Buy Me a Coffee

At the ACPA Annual Meeting, we sat down with Nancy Rowan and Rachel Chiavatti to discuss groundbreaking advancements in cleft care for Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS). Both mothers to sons born with cleft palate and PRS in the fall of 2022, they share their journeys as parents and advocates. Together, they co-founded HOAP for PRS (Healing with the Orthodontic Airway Plate for Pierre Robin Sequence), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving outcomes for PRS patients. They also highlight the pioneering work of Dr. HyeRan Choo at Stanford, who is leading the way in creating less invasive treatment options. Learn more about their mission at www.hoapforprs.com. Links and Resources: Buy us a Coffee

Dr. Jessica Canallatos, prosthodontist at Oishei Children's Hospital and member of the Craniofacial Team of WNY, brings a unique perspective to cleft care as someone born with a cleft herself. Specializing in Nasoalveolar Molding (NAM), neonatal ear molding, and digital prosthetics, Dr. Canallatos is passionate about transforming lives and supporting families through complex care. Recorded live at the ACPA Annual Meeting, this conversation highlights her reflections on her late mother, her inspiring path in dentistry, and what it means to give back to a community she personally understands. Links and Resources: Buy Me a Coffee Campaign Jessica Canallatos on IG

Recorded at the ACPA Annual Meeting, a powerful hub for knowledge sharing and connection, this episode of the Our Forever Smiles podcast features Stephanie Hassen, Executive Director of the Face to Face Foundation in Charlotte, North Carolina. Stephanie shares how her nonprofit raises funds and awards grants to cleft and craniofacial families across the Carolinas, along with the incredible community events that bring families together. As a mom of three, with her middle daughter born cleft-affected, Stephanie brings both personal passion and professional dedication to her mission of empowering families. Links and Resources: Facebook Group  Buy Me a Coffee Campaign Face to Face Organization

Vickie Stolle, speaker, writer, and certified WISDOM Coach™, is a cleft-affected individual with first-hand experience and knowledge of the cleft journey. Born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, she blends her lived experience with her professional mission of empowering children and families. As the founder of Resilient Kid Academy, she helps families foster resilience and emotional strength in their children, an often-overlooked part of cleft care. In this episode, Vickie shares her story, her insights on emotional well-being, and practical strategies for supporting kids beyond the medical side of cleft treatment. Support Links: Buy Me a Coffee Resilient Kid Academy Special Resource: Coaching for Resilience Did you catch our conversation with Vickie Stolle of Resilient Kid Academy? Vickie specializes in working with children and parents in the cleft community, focusing on building resilience and turning differences into strengths. Whether your child needs one-on-one Child Coaching to cultivate strong self-worth and confidently engage with others or you need guidance on effective Parent Coaching strategies for emotional support, Vickie can help you find the tools you need. Resilient Kid Academy is a wonderful resource for making sure your child feels capable and proud every day as they navigate their unique journey. Special Perk for Our Forever Smiles Listeners Enjoy a 10% Discount! Simply mention you're an Our Forever Smiles listener when you schedule your complimentary discovery call, and you'll receive 10% off your first coaching package with Resilient Kid Academy. Book your discovery call today: https://calendly.com/resilientkidacademy/15-minutediscoverycall

Returning for her third appearance, Summer Kormushoff opens up about her son's palate repair journey. She shares valuable tips for parents preparing for surgery, including practical advice and emotional insight. We also reflect on her previous episodes where she discussed receiving her son's cleft diagnosis and navigating lip repair. This full-circle conversation offers encouragement and guidance for parents at every stage of the cleft journey. Links and Resources: Buy us a Coffee

In this inspiring episode, Laura Arroyo sits down with Stacy Swope — special education teacher, mom of two, and first-time author — to share the story of her son Benjamin's cleft journey. From infancy through the school years, Benjamin has undergone a series of life-changing treatments and surgeries, including NAM, ear tubes, cleft lip and palate repairs, a two-part buccal flap procedure to improve speech and lengthen his palate, and two bone grafts using both hip and cadaver bone. Stacy opens up about what it's like to navigate the evolving medical needs of school-aged children affected by cleft lip and palate, the challenges and victories along the way, and the importance of creating supportive communities for families. She also gives us a glimpse into her upcoming children's book designed to encourage and empower cleft-affected kids and their families. Whether you're a parent, caregiver, or advocate, this conversation is filled with hope, resilience, and practical insight for every stage of the cleft journey. Links and Resources: A Sparkle You Carry

Dr. Mackensie McBeain, Board Certified Pediatric Dentist for the University of Minnesota Cleft and Craniofacial Team, joins us to share her expertise in cleft care. In addition to her private practice at Children's Dental Care, she provides Nasoalveolar Molding (NAM) for babies born with cleft differences. Balancing her professional dedication with life at home as a mother of three, Dr. McBeain offers both clinical insight and personal perspective. This episode highlights her role in supporting families from diagnosis through early treatment.

Laura Arroyo speaks with Dr. Vitorela about groundbreaking craniofacial orthodontics program and its impact on cleft treatment. Brought to you by the ACPA — the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association, improving outcomes for people with cleft and craniofacial conditions.

Laura Arroyo chats with Dr. Manlove about her work at UNC, her passion for education, and the future of cleft surgery. Brought to you by the ACPA — the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association, advancing education, research, and care worldwide. Links and Resources: Patreon Subscription Tiers for Exclusive Content Our Forever Smiles Merch Store NC Cleft Mom FB Group Our Forever Smiles FB Group ______________________________________________________________________________ Today's sponsor is sienna dawn media Integrated Marketing Agency  sienna dawn media is more than just a marketing agency—they are your partners in progress. Their mission is simple — to alleviate marketing bandwidth, allowing creative business owners to focus on what they set out to do: create. sienna dawn media empowers creatives to thrive without the burden of managing their own social media and marketing campaigns. So, if you're ready to set sail toward new horizons, let sienna dawn media chart the course and steer your business toward success. Visit siennadawnmedia.com.

Host Laura Arroyo talks with Dr. Christopher and Dr. Weiss about their practice, social media presence, and global impact through the Forever Smiles Foundation. Brought to you by the ACPA — the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association, uniting professionals to advance cleft and craniofacial care.

In this inspiring episode of the Our Forever Smiles podcast, host Laura Arroyo talks with Luci Capo Rome, a retired advanced practice registered nurse born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. Luci shares her decades-long journey as an advocate for the cleft community, from supporting women born with cleft in the 1980s to her current role as Kansas state lead for the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act. She discusses her work with Smile Train, the Cleft Community Advisory Council, and the Cleft Community Support Council, while shedding light on the urgent need for lifelong insurance coverage for those with congenital anomalies.

In this heartfelt episode of the Our Forever Smiles podcast, host Laura Arroyo sits down with Britany Filipkowski and her daughter Sophia, a courageous young girl born with a left unilateral complete cleft lip, maxilla/alveolus, and palate. Britany shares their family's journey, from early diagnosis and NICU days to feeding challenges, multiple surgeries, and the emotions of navigating cleft care. Together they reflect on the strength and resilience Sophia has shown, the importance of craniofacial teams and support organizations, and a moving tribute to Sophia's surgeon who passed away just before her third surgery. Links and Resources: Patreon Subscription Tiers for Exclusive Content Our Forever Smiles Merch Store NC Cleft Mom FB Group Our Forever Smiles FB Group ______________________________________________________________________________ Today's sponsor is sienna dawn media Integrated Marketing Agency  sienna dawn media is more than just a marketing agency—they are your partners in progress. Their mission is simple — to alleviate marketing bandwidth, allowing creative business owners to focus on what they set out to do: create. sienna dawn media empowers creatives to thrive without the burden of managing their own social media and marketing campaigns. So, if you're ready to set sail toward new horizons, let sienna dawn media chart the course and steer your business toward success. Visit siennadawnmedia.com.

Straight from the ACPA Annual Meeting in Atlanta, we sit down with Suzanne "Suzie" Santomieri, cleft coordinator at the NC Cleft & Craniofacial Center and proud cleft mama. Suzie opens up about her emotional journey from special education teacher to advocate after her own daughter's diagnosis. Now she walks hand in hand with families through every twist and turn of the cleft journey. In this heartfelt conversation Suzie shares the strategies she's learned along the way and why attending the annual ACPA meeting is vital for both professionals and families to find community, stay informed, and never feel alone. Links and Resources: Patreon Subscription Tiers for Exclusive Content Our Forever Smiles Merch Store NC Cleft Mom FB Group Our Forever Smiles FB Group ______________________________________________________________________________ Today's sponsor is sienna dawn media Integrated Marketing Agency  sienna dawn media is more than just a marketing agency—they are your partners in progress. Their mission is simple — to alleviate marketing bandwidth, allowing creative business owners to focus on what they set out to do: create. sienna dawn media empowers creatives to thrive without the burden of managing their own social media and marketing campaigns. So, if you're ready to set sail toward new horizons, let sienna dawn media chart the course and steer your business toward success. Visit siennadawnmedia.com.