Filmed at the ACPA Annual Meeting, a powerful hub for knowledge sharing and connection, this episode features clinical psychologist and cleft advocate Dr. Danielle McWilliams. Born with a cleft herself, Danielle merges lived experience and academic insight to explore how gender, appearance, and identity intersect. She shares highlights from her groundbreaking doctoral thesis amplifying the voices of other women born with a cleft, stories that have rarely been told so candidly. Join us for a raw and insightful conversation about visibility, womanhood, and why gatherings like the ACPA Annual Meeting are essential for pushing the cleft community forward together.

Links and Resources:

• Patreon Subscription Tiers for Exclusive Content
• Our Forever Smiles Merch Store
• NC Cleft Mom FB Group
• Our Forever Smiles FB Group

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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.

Recorded live at the ACPA Annual Meeting, where cleft professionals, advocates, and families unite to advance care, this episode spotlights Meg Lico, Principal Speech-Language Pathologist. Winner of the 2024 ACPA Young Professional Award and creator of the viral “Nose Movie,” Meg shares how her innovative approaches help demystify nasoendoscopy for children. From her journey in public health and Columbia graduate to nationally recognized leader, Meg reflects on why the annual meeting is a must for staying ahead in cleft care and how collaborative learning directly benefits the families she serves.

Links and Resources:

• The Craniofacial SLP Instagram
• 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.

In this powerful episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura Arroyo talks with Ellen Coulter, a media relations professional, wife, and mom of two. Ellen shares her emotional journey after learning about her son Henry’s cleft diagnosis during pregnancy. The hardest part, she says, was the space between diagnosis and birth, a season filled with overwhelming guilt, fear, and uncertainty. Ellen speaks candidly about how isolating those months felt and how she longed for the kind of support this podcast now provides. Her story is a reminder that you are not alone and that healing can begin even before your baby arrives.

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.

In this episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura sits down with Stacey Howell, a teacher turned homeschool mom and devoted wife of 16 years. Stacey shares the powerful story behind her family's cleft journey. She talks about the importance of finding the right cleft team, even if it means traveling far from home, and how faith guided her through it all. Her son recently underwent bone graft surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital and is doing well. From advocating for her child to embracing each step of the process, Stacey’s story is filled with wisdom, strength, and encouragement for families navigating cleft care.

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.

In this powerful episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo sits down with Lauren Greenlee, a wife, first-time mom, marketing coordinator, and owner of an online baby boys clothing boutique. Lauren shares the raw and emotional story of her son’s birth with a cleft lip and how her hospital experience fell heartbreakingly short of the care every family deserves.

She reads the compelling email she sent to the hospital, detailing the failures that occurred during her labor and delivery, and discusses why speaking up for ourselves and our children is so crucial.

Lauren also opens up about the role of her faith in navigating uncertainty, the search for a cleft community, and the connections that have brought her hope and strength.

This is an episode for anyone seeking courage, community, and the reminder that your voice matters, even when the system falls short.

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.

In this episode, Laura Arroyo sits down with Dr. Aditi Kanth, a board-certified plastic surgeon and fellowship-trained pediatric plastic and craniofacial surgeon. As co-director of the Rutgers Health Cleft and Craniofacial Program at Bristol Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Dr. Kanth shares her deep commitment to patient and family-centered care.

Together, they discuss the importance of having the right conversations with patients, creating a gentle and compassionate environment, and ensuring families feel supported throughout their cleft and craniofacial journeys. Dr. Kanth also opens up about being a mom to her two-year-old and how her personal connection to clefts in her own family fuels her passion for increasing access to care and making families feel comfortable every step of the way.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation that blends professional expertise with heartfelt dedication to the cleft community.

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.

In this heartfelt episode, host Laura Arroyo sits down with Krista Pietersma, founder of Cuddles for Clefts, to share an inspiring journey of love, loss, and advocacy. Krista opens up about discovering her son’s cleft diagnosis and how it fueled her desire to make a difference in the cleft community.

She explains how Cuddles for Clefts was born, an organization that provides comfort and connection through handmade blankets and care packages for cleft-affected children and families. Krista also honors the memory of her son’s beloved surgeon, Dr. David Genecov, whose tragic passing in a car accident left a lasting impact on the cleft world.

Join us for a moving conversation about finding purpose through personal trials and the power of community support.

Links and Resources:

• Cuddles for Clefts website
• 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.

In this engaging episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo sits down with Liv Broads, a UK mom whose son Rio was born with a unilateral cleft lip and gum notch. Liv shares her experience navigating Rio’s cleft journey, from the early days of diagnosis to preparing for surgery in the UK healthcare system.

Together, they discuss the aesthetics of cleft lip repair and why it’s important for parents to feel empowered to talk openly with surgeons about their wishes and expectations. Liv also highlights the incredible support she’s received from CLAPA (Cleft Lip and Palate Association) and shares her excitement about her upcoming skydive on July 20th to raise funds for the organization.

Liv talks candidly about daily life with a cleft-affected baby, her partnership with Dr. Brown’s, and her mission to bring hope and resources to other families on the same path.

This episode is a heartfelt reminder of the power of community, advocacy, and finding your voice in the cleft journey.

Links and Resources:

• Support Liv's SkyDive for CLAPA
• 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.

In this relatable episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo talks with Sara Breen, a full-time working mom, program manager, and cleft parent living in Chicago. Sara opens up about her experience returning to work after her son Boomer’s cleft diagnosis and navigating daycare through multiple procedures and recovery periods.

She shares how she prepared daycare staff, advocated for her son’s needs, and built a strong partnership with his caregivers. With honesty and practical advice, Sara offers tips for other working parents balancing career, cleft care, and early childhood transitions.

This episode is full of encouragement for cleft moms figuring it all out one step, one surgery, and one day at a time.

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.

In this powerful episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo speaks with Dr. Anna Thurmes, a cleft-affected adult, speech-language pathologist, professor, and member of the University of Minnesota Cleft and Craniofacial Team, where she was once a patient herself. Born with a cleft lip and palate, Dr. Thurmes shares how her lived experience shaped her personal and professional path.

As host of The Cleft Collective Podcast and a PhD in Family Social Science, Dr. Thurmes brings a unique, compassionate perspective to cleft care. She opens up about her own cleft journey, the importance of mental and emotional support, and how she now helps other families navigate their own stories.

This episode is a meaningful conversation about identity, advocacy, and the power of turning lived experience into purpose.

Links and Resources:

• Anna Thurmes on Instagram
• 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.