What does it mean to truly embrace what makes you different?

In this powerful conversation, Laura sits down with Justin Stewart, model, content creator, basketball coach, and Program Officer at myFace to discuss growing up with the rare craniofacial condition frontonasal dysplasia. Justin shares his journey from navigating bullying and multiple surgeries to building confidence, finding community, and using his platform to advocate for greater representation for people with facial differences.

Together, they explore the importance of family support, the emotional impact of craniofacial care, making deeply personal decisions about surgery, and why listening to children with facial differences matters more than having all the answers. Justin also reflects on his modeling career with brands like Nike and Vogue, his work in advocacy, and how finding community transformed his life.

Whether you're a parent raising a child with a craniofacial difference, someone navigating your own medical journey, or simply looking for an inspiring conversation about resilience, identity, and belonging, this episode is a reminder that our differences are not something to hide—they're part of what makes us who we are.

Links:

Buy Us a Coffee

FB Support Group

When Megan Smith learned she was expecting twins, she never imagined one of her boys would also be born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. In this heartfelt episode, Megan shares her family's journey from the shock of a prenatal diagnosis to navigating feeding challenges, surgeries, and life with three young boys—all while leaning on her faith through every season.

Megan opens up about the grief, fear, and uncertainty she experienced during pregnancy, the compassion she wishes every family received at diagnosis, and the hope she found as she watched her son, Sullivan, grow stronger with each milestone. Her story is a powerful reminder that while the cleft journey isn't easy, it is filled with resilience, purpose, and so many beautiful, ordinary moments along the way.

Whether you're a parent who has just received a diagnosis or you're further along in your cleft journey, this conversation will leave you feeling encouraged, understood, and reminded that you are never alone.

Links:

Buy Us a Coffee

FB Support Group

In this heartfelt episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura sits down with Byrdie Wilson, a Nashville singer-songwriter and Operation Smile ambassador, and her mom, Pam, to share their family's cleft journey. From an unexpected cleft palate diagnosis and Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS) at birth to discovering at 24 that Byrdie may need another cleft-related surgery, this conversation highlights the lifelong impact of cleft care.

Together, they discuss navigating the NICU, finding strength through advocacy, and why ongoing follow-up is so important for both children and adults with cleft conditions. This episode is filled with hope, honesty, and encouragement for every cleft family.

If this episode resonates with you, be sure to follow the podcast and share it with someone who could use the reminder that they're never alone on this journey.

Links:

Byrdie Music

Byrdie on IG

Buy Us a Coffee

FB Support Group

What happens when two of your children are born with the same rare condition that doctors say is typically isolated?

In this heartfelt episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura sits down with Stacey Charbel, a middle school teacher, cleft advocate, and mom to two daughters, Ava and Norah, both born with cleft palates caused by Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS). Stacey shares the unexpected diagnoses of both girls, the emotional challenges of feeding difficulties, airway concerns, hospital stays, surgeries, and the resilience that has shaped her family.

Together, Laura and Stacey discuss the realities of raising children with PRS, including lip adhesion, cleft palate repair, pharyngeal flap surgery, and the importance of finding a medical team you trust. They also explore the emotional side of the journey, from grieving the expectations of early motherhood to finding strength, community, and hope through shared experiences.

Whether you're navigating a new cleft diagnosis, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to better understand Pierre Robin Sequence, this conversation offers practical insight, honest encouragement, and the reminder that even the hardest journeys can lead to extraordinary resilience.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• What Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS) is and how it affects feeding and breathing
• The challenges of feeding a baby with a cleft palate
• Specialized bottles, feeding positions, and early interventions
• Lip adhesion vs. jaw distraction
• Cleft palate repair and pharyngeal flap surgery
• Parenting through multiple surgeries and hospital stays
• The power of community, advocacy, and hope for newly diagnosed families

No matter where you are on your cleft journey, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone, and that brighter days are ahead.

Links:

Buy Us a Coffee

FB Support Group

What happens when the anatomy scan changes everything?

In this heartfelt episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura sits down with cleft mom Sam Beckstead to share the emotional story of learning her daughter had a cleft lip during pregnancy, navigating uncertainty, and discovering strength through the cleft community.

Sam opens up about the shock of receiving a prenatal diagnosis, the emotional rollercoaster that followed, and the journey from fear to hope. She shares how her family found support through Shriners Children's, what it was like welcoming her daughter into the world, unexpectedly breastfeeding despite preparing for the worst, and navigating cleft lip surgery with honesty and resilience.

Together, Laura and Sam discuss the importance of community, the value of connecting with other cleft families, and why every parent's journey is unique. They also offer encouragement for families who may be facing a new diagnosis today, reminding them that they are not alone—and that their child is so much more than a cleft.

Whether you're a parent navigating a cleft diagnosis, supporting someone who is, or simply looking to better understand the cleft journey, this conversation is filled with practical insight, vulnerability, laughter, and hope.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Receiving a prenatal cleft diagnosis and processing the unexpected
• Preparing for birth amid uncertainty
• Breastfeeding with an incomplete bilateral cleft lip
• Sam's experience with Shriners Children's and cleft care
• Preparing for and recovering from cleft lip repair surgery
• The power of the cleft parent community
• Advice for parents receiving a new diagnosis
• Finding joy, confidence, and hope throughout the journey

No matter where you are on your cleft journey, we hope this episode reminds you that you are never walking it alone.

Links:

Buy Us a Coffee

FB Support Group

In this special episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura sits down with Andrea Garrett, founder of the Caring for Clefts Foundation, to share a perspective we haven't explored before, the grandparent journey.

Andrea reflects on learning that her first granddaughter would be born with a cleft lip and palate, how that experience inspired her advocacy, and the importance of supporting families with compassion, education, and community. Together, they discuss what grandparents can do to truly help, why cleft care is about so much more than surgery, and how small acts of support can make a lasting impact.

Whether you're a parent, grandparent, or someone walking alongside a cleft family, this conversation is a heartfelt reminder that no one has to navigate the journey alone.

Links:

Caring for Cleft on IG

Buy Us a Coffee

FB Support Group

What does it look like to grow up with a cleft lip and palate—and thrive?

In this inspiring episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura Arroyo sits down with Malaki Ta'ase, Division I football player at Iowa State University, husband, father, and cleft advocate, to talk about his journey from childhood surgeries and speech therapy to competing at the highest levels of college athletics.

Malaki shares how his parents and siblings helped build his confidence, why openness about his cleft made a lasting impact on his self-image, and how meeting other people in the cleft community shaped his perspective. He reflects on navigating questions from peers, overcoming insecurities, pursuing big dreams, and embracing what he now considers his "superpower."

For parents raising a child with a cleft diagnosis, this conversation offers reassurance, hope, and a powerful reminder that a cleft does not define a child's future. From family life and football to advocacy and self-acceptance, Malaki's story highlights the resilience, possibility, and joy that can grow from even the most challenging beginnings.

Whether you're a parent, caregiver, individual born with a cleft, or someone looking for encouragement, this episode is filled with practical wisdom and heartfelt perspective.

Links:

Malaki on Instagram

Buy Us a Coffee

FB Support Group

What does it mean to grow up alongside a sibling with a disability, and who supports the siblings along the way?

In this heartfelt episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura sits down with pediatric dentist and mom Amy Kebriaei and her daughter, Leily Kebriaei, to discuss life with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome from a sibling's perspective. Amy shares the emotional journey of receiving her daughter Roya's diagnosis, navigating complex medical needs, and building a support network for families facing similar challenges.

Leily offers a powerful and honest look at what it's like growing up with a sister who has special needs, balancing advocacy, friendship, responsibility, and the everyday realities of being a sibling. She also shares the inspiration behind Sib Support, an online support group she created for teens who have siblings with long-term disabilities.

Together, they explore disability awareness, sibling relationships, self-advocacy, inclusion in schools and activities, and the importance of creating spaces where siblings feel seen and supported. This episode is a moving reminder that every family member is impacted by a diagnosis, and that connection, understanding, and community can make all the difference.

Whether you're a parent, sibling, caregiver, or advocate, this conversation will leave you inspired by the resilience, compassion, and love that exist within the special needs community.

Links:

Sib Support Registration

Buy Us a Coffee

FB Support Group

In this episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura sits down with Kailey Kuck to share the emotional journey of welcoming her daughter, Ember, who was unexpectedly born with a cleft palate and additional medical challenges. Kailey Kuck opens up about navigating feeding difficulties, advocating for the right medical team, receiving rare genetic diagnoses, and learning to trust her instincts as a mother.

This honest conversation highlights the importance of self-advocacy, finding compassionate providers, and remembering that every child deserves to be seen for who they are, not their diagnosis. Whether you're navigating a new cleft diagnosis or supporting someone who is, this episode is a reminder that you're not alone.

What is it like to grow up with a cleft palate and learn to find your voice in a world that often feels intimidating? In this episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura sits down with Delaney, a professional in the medical device industry who was born with a cleft palate, to discuss her personal journey through surgeries, speech therapy, self-confidence challenges, and ultimately finding the courage to speak up and advocate for others.

Delaney shares what it was like for her family to receive a surprise cleft diagnosis at birth, her early memories of hospital stays and surgeries, and how years of speech therapy helped shape her communication skills. She opens up about childhood insecurities, navigating bullying, and the lasting impact cleft can have on confidence and self-expression.

Together, Laura and Delaney explore the unique perspective of being born with a cleft palate, the importance of advocacy, and why encouraging children to use their voice can be one of the greatest gifts parents can give. Delaney also offers heartfelt reassurance to parents who may be facing a new cleft diagnosis, reminding them that their child can live a happy, vibrant, and fulfilling life.

Whether you're a cleft parent, a cleft-affected adult, or a healthcare professional supporting craniofacial families, this conversation is filled with hope, encouragement, and practical wisdom.

Links:

Buy Us a Coffee

FB Support Group