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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