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PODCAST

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo

Whether you"ve just learned the difficult news of your baby"s cleft lip/palate, you"re in the middle of your cleft lip/palate journey, or you"re a seasoned pro who knows the many challenges of children who are born with clefts all too well, this podcast is for you! Join your host, Laura C. Arroyo, mother of a daughter born with a cleft palate, in a weekly conversation about everything from feeding and speech therapy to surgeries and genetics. We"ll share tips and advice from other moms who have

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

30:55

Womanhood, Cleft & Identity – Dr. Danielle McWilliams...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/08/26

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

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36:37

Inside the ‘Nose Movie’ – Innovating Cleft Care with...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/08/19

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

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58:51

The Guilt Between Diagnosis and Birth: Ellen’s Honest...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/08/12

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

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55:44

Choosing Faith Over Fear: Our Cleft Journey and...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/08/05

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

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01:01:21

When the System Falls Short: Faith, Advocacy, and a...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/07/29

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

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52:27

Cleft Care with Compassion: A Conversation with Dr....

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/07/22

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

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49:26

Cuddles for Clefts with Krista Pietersma

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/07/15

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

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01:08:33

Rio’s Smile: A Cleft Lip and Gum Notch Journey with...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/07/08

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

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01:09:29

Managing Daycare and Cleft Care as a Working Mom with...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/07/01

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

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57:15

From Lived Experience to Lifelong Impact with Dr....

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/06/24

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,

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53:33

Understanding Our Daughter's Cleft Diagnosis: A Mom’s...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/06/17

In this heartfelt episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo talks with Colleen Bennett, a Washington State native and military spouse of 18 years. Colleen shares the emotional story of discovering her daughter’s bilateral cleft lip and palate diagnosis while her husband was deployed, and the loneliness that followed in the early days of uncertainty. Determined to advocate for her daughter, Colleen began researching cleft care on her own and discovered just how much treatment plans can vary by

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58:13

Navigating a Unilateral Cleft Diagnosis Together:...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/06/10

In this heartfelt episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo talks with Tara and Michael Cory about their journey as a couple after receiving their son’s incomplete unilateral cleft lip diagnosis. They share openly about the initial shock, the emotional grief process, and how they came to a place of acceptance and clarity about their son’s future. Through personal stories and thoughtful reflections, Tara and Michael offer a powerful perspective on navigating a cleft diagnosis together. Their

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01:01:28

Cleft Trauma Coaching and The 100 Cleft Portrait...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/06/03

In this inspiring episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo is joined by Katie Manning, a trauma coach, artist, teacher, and cleft mom whose work is reshaping how we understand the emotional landscape of cleft parenting. Katie opens up about her experience raising a child with a cleft while also being married to someone who is cleft affected. Together, they discuss the internal tension Katie faced when sharing stories that weren’t fully her own and how she ultimately found purpose in building

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52:37

Breaking the Ice: Sam Rosen on Growing Up with a...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/05/27

In this episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura Arroyo sits down with Sam Rosen, a cleft lip and palate–affected adult who shares his remarkable journey from being adopted in Bulgaria to finding his voice and confidence through hockey. Sam opens up about what it was like navigating multiple identities, the unique challenges of growing up with a cleft, and how his mother’s unwavering love and his father’s sense of humor helped shape his outlook on life. This conversation is a powerful reminder of the

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46:18

Beyond Tired: How Cleft Lip and Palate Impact Sleep...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/05/20

In this eye-opening episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo sits down with pediatric sleep expert Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown to explore the often-overlooked connection between cleft lip and palate and sleep challenges in children. From airway obstructions and breathing difficulties to the emotional toll of sleep deprivation on families, Dr. Brown shares her expert insights on how cleft conditions can significantly disrupt sleep. Together, they dive into safe sleep practices for cleft-affected

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55:18

How Trauma Coaching Helped a Cleft Mom Heal with...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/05/13

When Stacey Hussell learned that her son would be born with a cleft lip—just like she was—she was flooded with emotions. In this episode, she opens up about the weight of passing down her diagnosis, the fears and guilt that came with it, and how trauma coaching helped her navigate the emotional toll. Join Laura and Stacey for a raw and inspiring conversation about healing, acceptance, and finding strength as a cleft-affected mom raising a cleft-affected child. Links and Resources: Patreon

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01:09:06

Each Journey is Unique: Lifelong Cleft Care and...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/05/06

In this insightful episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura sits down with Dr. Huay-Zong Law to explore his journey into cleft care and the deeper purpose that fuels his work. Dr. Law shares why he chose this specialty, his dedication to constantly improving as a surgeon, and how he has used social media to educate and connect with others in the cleft community. They also discuss the lifelong nature of cleft care, including the often-overlooked treatment of adult patients, and how each patient’s journey

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01:08:39

Surprised and Unprepared: Cleft Palate Birth Stories...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/04/29

In this heartfelt episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo sits down with fellow cleft mama Brittnie Hampson @britthampson to share their deeply personal experiences of discovering their daughters’ cleft palates at birth—both born at UNC. They reflect on the shock of an unexpected diagnosis, the overwhelming emotions that followed, and the immediate challenges they faced—especially with feeding. Laura and Brittnie open up about the lack of nurse education they encountered in the hospital and

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55:03

Choosing Love Without Hesitation: A Cleft Mom’s...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/04/22

In this powerful episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura sits down with Erin Ulloa, a dedicated wife, mother, and full-time professional balancing life as a student and future history teacher. Erin shares her experience as an older mom navigating her son Oliver’s bilateral cleft lip diagnosis, the support she found through online communities and a colleague with a similar journey, and the challenges of balancing career, school, and motherhood. One of the most shocking moments in her journey came when

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54:51

Reclaiming Birth: A Crunchy Cleft Mom’s Home Birth...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/04/15

In this eye-opening episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura sits down with Dariyon Mendoza, a mom of three who proudly calls herself a “crunchy cleft mom.” Dariyon challenges the notion that a cleft diagnosis automatically means a high-risk pregnancy, sharing her journey of advocating for natural births and creating the birth experience she wanted—despite her baby’s diagnosis. She opens up about her own home birth experience and her mission to empower other moms to know that they have options. Tune in

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100 results

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