In this powerful and hope-filled episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura Arroyo sits down with three incredible leaders in the cleft and craniofacial community: Susie Santamaria, Stephanie Hasson, and Jesse Hill. Together, they discuss the emotional realities of supporting cleft families, the importance of community care, and the exciting launch of the 100 Cleft Portrait Tour.

This moving conversation explores what it truly means to walk alongside cleft families — from prenatal diagnosis through surgeries, school years, and beyond. Susie and Stephanie also share their personal experiences as cleft moms, while Jesse offers insight into the deeply impactful role of a cleft care coordinator.

The episode also highlights the inspiring work behind the 100 Cleft Portrait Tour, a nationwide art exhibit created by UK artist Katie Manning, featuring 100 portraits celebrating the beauty, resilience, and individuality of people born with clefts. Families attending the North Carolina stop can expect art, connection, storytelling, community activities, and the opportunity to meet other cleft families who truly understand the journey.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• What cleft care coordinators actually do behind the scenes
• Supporting families through prenatal cleft diagnoses
• The emotional realities of parenting a child with a cleft
• Why visibility and storytelling matter in the cleft community
• The power of community events and peer support
• The future of cleft advocacy and care
• Details about the 100 Cleft Portrait Tour coming to North Carolina

This episode is a beautiful reminder that cleft families are never alone — and that healing happens not only through surgeries and treatment, but also through connection, representation, and shared experiences.

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In this heartfelt episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura Arroyo sits down with pediatric dentist and cleft mom Dr. Jordan Virden for an honest conversation about navigating the cleft journey from both sides of the chair. As a volunteer on the Johns Hopkins Cleft Team and a first-time mom to baby Eli, Jordan shares what it was like receiving a prenatal cleft diagnosis despite already working closely with cleft patients throughout her professional career.

Together, Laura and Jordan discuss the emotional reality of hearing "your baby has a cleft," preparing for labor and delivery, feeding challenges, lip adhesion surgery, and the unique perspective of being both a provider and a parent. Jordan also offers valuable insight into cleft-related dental care, including missing teeth, extra teeth, oral hygiene concerns, and what parents should expect as their child grows.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Receiving a cleft diagnosis during the anatomy scan
• Preparing emotionally and medically for birth
• Lip adhesion surgery and recovery
• Feeding with specialty bottles and the blue disc system
• Common dental differences in children with clefts
• Preventing cavities and oral health complications
• The emotional toll of surgeries and returning to work postpartum
• Advocacy, resilience, and supporting cleft families

This conversation is full of warmth, reassurance, practical guidance, and hope for parents navigating life with a child born with a cleft lip or palate. Whether you're newly diagnosed or years into your journey, this episode reminds you that your child can thrive — and so can you.

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In this deeply informative and compassionate episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Bethea sits down with longtime genetic counselor Robin Imagire to unpack one of the biggest questions cleft families ask: Why did this happen?

With over 30 years of experience working alongside craniofacial teams, Robin shares honest insight into the complex world of cleft genetics, including what "multifactorial" really means, why most clefts don't have a clear-cut answer, and how environmental and genetic factors may work together. Laura also opens up about her daughter Giselle's cleft palate journey, her family's experience with genetic testing, and the emotional weight many parents carry while searching for answers.

Together, they discuss:

• Why NIPT testing often doesn't detect clefts
• Common syndromes associated with cleft lip and palate
• Pierre Robin Sequence, Van der Woude syndrome, and 22q deletion
• The truth about the MTHFR gene and cleft rumors online
• Whether clefts can be prevented
• The emotional side of receiving a diagnosis as a parent

This episode is filled with reassurance, practical education, and the reminder every cleft parent needs to hear: you are not alone, and this is not your fault.

Whether you're newly diagnosed, navigating surgeries, or simply trying to better understand your child's cleft journey, this conversation offers clarity, comfort, and hope.

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In this deeply moving episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo sits down with Maria, a cleft mom from Greece, to share her powerful journey of navigating a prenatal cleft diagnosis, unexpected fear, and finding strength through motherhood and community.

Maria opens up about the emotional moment she learned her son had a cleft lip, the devastating and ultimately incorrect Down syndrome scare she received from her first doctor, and how that experience forever changed her as a mother, wife, and advocate. She shares the realities of cleft care in Greece, where resources and feeding supplies are limited, and how a small but passionate Facebook community of cleft families became a lifeline of support.

Together, Laura and Maria discuss NICU experiences, surgery fears, feeding challenges, postpartum emotions, and the incredible resilience parents discover when advocating for their children. This episode is a heartfelt reminder that no matter where you are in the world, cleft families are connected through love, courage, and community.

Whether you are newly diagnosed, preparing for surgery, or simply searching for reassurance, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, supported, and less alone.

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In this episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo sits down with Kindsay, a first-time mom navigating life with her six-month-old son born with a cleft lip and palate.

Kindsay shares her deeply personal journey — from receiving an unexpected diagnosis late in pregnancy to navigating the emotional realities of birth, NICU time, feeding challenges, and her son's cleft lip repair. She opens up about the overwhelming moments, the learning curve of caring for a medically complex baby, and the strength she discovered along the way.

Together, Laura and Kindsay discuss the realities many cleft parents experience but don't always talk about: advocating for your baby, managing feeding struggles, preparing for surgery, and coping with the emotional weight of the first year.

Kindsay also offers heartfelt advice to parents who may have just received a cleft diagnosis — reminding them that while the journey can feel overwhelming, they are not alone and there is hope ahead.

If you're a parent navigating a cleft diagnosis or looking for reassurance from someone who understands, this episode is for you.

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In this episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura sits down with Franleska Garcia, cleft mom to a three-year-old boy born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, author, and creator of La Sonrisa de Fer. Franleska shares her experience receiving a prenatal diagnosis, navigating NAM therapy and multiple surgeries, and processing the grief that often accompanies a cleft journey. She reflects on how storytelling became both a healing tool and a form of advocacy, especially for families seeking bilingual and culturally inclusive cleft resources. This conversation offers reassurance, validation, and hope for parents walking a similar path.

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Sonrisa de Fer

In this powerful and deeply moving episode, Laura sits down with Jonathan, a member of a three-generation cleft-affected family, to explore healing, identity, and advocacy. From surviving trauma and "cleft rage" to finding purpose through community, Johnathan shares how he transformed pain into power. Together, they discuss the father's role in the cleft journey, breaking cycles of shame, and what it truly means to live "loud and proud." This conversation is a reminder that no family is broken—and no one is alone.

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In this episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura Arroyo sits down with Kristi Pimentel, founder of Berries and Roses Swimwear and mom to a daughter born with a cleft lip and palate. Kristi shares her journey from diagnosis to motherhood, opening up about the early challenges and the strength she found along the way.

What makes this conversation especially powerful is the purpose behind Berries and Roses Swimwear. Inspired by her daughter, Kristi has built a brand rooted in confidence, representation, and empowerment for young girls. Through a meaningful partnership with Smile Train, her work goes even further—helping raise awareness and support for children with clefts around the world.

This episode is a reminder that even the hardest beginnings can lead to something beautiful, and that when passion meets purpose, it can create impact far beyond your own story.

In this episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura is joined by Maddie Nipper, mom to Levi Samuel, who was born with a complete bilateral cleft lip and palate. Maddie shares her experience navigating prenatal diagnosis, feeding challenges, grief over breastfeeding, and becoming the first family to complete the NAM program at UNC. Together, they talk honestly about surgery, sibling dynamics, faith, and the loneliness that can come with the cleft journey. This episode offers reassurance, validation, and hope for parents who are in the thick of it and wondering if it ever gets easier.

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Jack's New Smile

In this powerful episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura sits down with Kori — a licensed social worker, maternal health advocate, and mom to two — whose second child was prenatally diagnosed with a cleft lip and palate.

Already working in perinatal mental health, Kori thought she was prepared. But an unexpected ultrasound at 18 weeks revealed a cleft diagnosis, additional physical markers, and the possibility of a syndromic condition. What followed was months of high-risk care, genetic testing, insurance denials, and overwhelming uncertainty.

Kori shares what it was like to receive a rare genetic diagnosis when her daughter was six months old — one that doctors warned could involve developmental delays, seizures, or regression. She opens up about living in the "what if," balancing professional knowledge with maternal fear, and learning to parent without guarantees.

She also bravely recounts her traumatic delivery experience, the challenges of advocating in the hospital, navigating NICU fears, breastfeeding with a cleft baby, insurance battles over congenital care, and the emotional weight of raising a child with both a cleft and an ultra-rare genetic mutation.

This conversation is honest, nuanced, and deeply validating for any cleft mom walking through prenatal diagnosis, medical trauma, genetic uncertainty, or advocacy fatigue.

If you've ever felt like you have to be strong while carrying so much unknown — this episode is for you.

Subscribe to Our Forever Smiles and join a community that reminds you: you are never alone in this journey.

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