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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

42:26

Mental Health, Motherhood, and a Surprise Cleft...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2026/03/31

In this heartfelt episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo sits down with Brandy, a mom of two whose youngest daughter was born with a surprise cleft palate diagnosed at birth. After a smooth pregnancy and normal ultrasounds, Brandy and her husband were shocked to learn about their daughter's cleft in the delivery room. What followed was a whirlwind of feeding challenges, jaundice, long hospital stays, specialty bottles, weekly therapy appointments, and eventually cleft palate repair

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38:54

Cleft Surgery Real Talk: Feeding, Sleep, and Healing...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2026/03/24

In this episode of the Our Forever Smiles podcast, host Laura Arroyo sits down with Sarah Norwood to share her personal journey with her son Hollis's palate repair. From hospital recovery, feeding challenges, and pain management, to sleep regressions and speech milestones, Sarah offers candid insights and practical tips for parents navigating the cleft journey. We also answer questions from cleft mom groups to provide reassurance, guidance, and support. Links: Buy Us a Coffee FB Support Group

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54:17

Never Giving Up: An Adult Cleft Journey Through 25+...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2026/03/17

In this deeply personal and eye-opening episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura welcomes returning guest Corinne for her third appearance on the podcast. Born with a cleft lip and palate, Corinne shares her lifelong journey through more than 30 surgeries, including repeated palate repair failures, innovative fat grafting procedures, and the emotional toll of navigating cleft care into adulthood. Together, Laura and Corinne discuss acid reflux as a lesser-known contributor to palatal repair failure, the

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43:59

From Medical Mystery to Meaningful Advocacy With...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2026/03/10

In this episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura speaks with Erica, Executive Director of the Children's Craniofacial Association, about growing up with an undiagnosed craniofacial difference and finding her voice through advocacy. Erica shares her lived experience navigating surgeries, self-image, and the long road to confidence. Together, they discuss the importance of language, accessibility, parent advocacy, and building inclusive community spaces. This conversation offers perspective, reassurance,

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56:14

"I Saw the Cleft Before Anyone Told Me.": A Prenatal...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2026/03/03

In this episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura speaks with Christina, a first-time mom from Serbia whose son was prenatally diagnosed with a cleft lip and palate at 26 weeks. Christina shares her experience navigating diagnosis, specialist care, and preparation for surgery within a different healthcare system. She opens up about feeding challenges, NAM therapy, finding community support, and learning to trust herself as a parent. This episode offers reassurance and perspective for families around the

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41:20

"I Was Labeled 'Wolf Lip'": Sam's Journey Through...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2026/02/24

In this episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura welcomes back cleft advocate Sam to share his powerful lived experience growing up with bilateral cleft lip and palate. Born in Bulgaria and adopted to the U.S., Sam opens up about early surgeries, speech challenges, bullying, and navigating identity as both an adoptee and someone with a facial difference. Together, they discuss global stigma, harmful language, media representation, and why authentic inclusion matters. This conversation offers

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43:19

From Diagnosis to Discharge: Zaid's Cleft Journey and...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2026/02/17

In this episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura sits down with Natalie and Alec, parents to Zaid, who was born with a cleft lip and palate. They share their experience navigating a prenatal diagnosis, an unexpected NICU stay, feeding challenges, and learning how to advocate within a complex medical system. This honest conversation highlights the importance of asking questions, finding community support, and trusting your instincts as a parent. A must-listen for families preparing for birth or feeling

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46:12

From Venezuela to London: Meirah's Search for the...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2026/02/10

In this episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura speaks with Meirah, a mother, author, and advocate whose son was born with a complete bilateral cleft lip and palate. Meirah shares her experience navigating a surprise diagnosis at birth, feeding challenges, and seeking cleft care across multiple countries. She reflects on choosing early surgical repair, raising a confident child, and how lived experience led her to write her book A Broken Smile. This conversation offers reassurance and perspective for

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43:51

Cleft Care Beyond Surgery: Parenting, Advocacy, and...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2026/02/03

In this episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura sits down with Stephanie, a cleft mom and Executive Director of the Face-to-Face Foundation. Stephanie shares her family's prenatal cleft diagnosis journey, the realities of cleft care, and how lived experience led her into advocacy work. Together, they discuss the importance of community connection, medical grants, and supporting families beyond surgery. This conversation offers reassurance, perspective, and hope for parents navigating a cleft diagnosis

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42:12

"It's Going to Be Okay": Navigating a Prenatal Cleft...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2026/01/27

In this episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura sits down with Natalie, a mom of two whose son was prenatally diagnosed with a cleft lip. Natalie shares the emotional journey from receiving the diagnosis at 16 weeks to preparing for surgery and finding peace in the unknown. She opens up about anxiety, faith, choosing the right cleft team, and what helped her feel grounded during pregnancy. This conversation offers reassurance and hope for families navigating a prenatal cleft diagnosis. Links: Buy Us a

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43:10

When Birth Doesn't Go as Planned: A First-Time Mom's...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2026/01/20

Brooklyn joins Our Forever Smiles to share her experience as a cleft mom navigating diagnosis, surgery, and motherhood with resilience and honesty. She opens up about the emotional ups and downs of the cleft journey and the importance of community support. This episode centers on growth, advocacy, and learning to trust yourself as a parent. A comforting and relatable conversation for moms at any stage of the cleft journey. Links: Buy Us a Coffee FB Support Group

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40:52

Helping Kids Feel Seen: Charlotte's Mission Beyond...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2026/01/13

In this inspiring episode, Laura speaks with Charlotte, a 17-year-old cleft-affected individual and the creator of Stitches by Charlotte. Born with a cleft lip and palate, Charlotte shares her lived experience and how she began creating surgery companion dolls to help children feel seen and supported. She also discusses advocacy, confidence, and using her voice to create change in the cleft community. This conversation is a reminder of the power of representation and lived experience. Links:

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56:00

I Didn't Hear Anything Past 'Cleft Palate': Jessica's...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2026/01/06

Jessica shares her story of becoming a first-time mom and learning about her child's cleft palate after birth, followed by an unexpected NICU stay. She reflects on the shock, fear, and isolation that came with leaving the hospital without her baby. This episode highlights the emotional realities of NICU life, navigating a cleft palate diagnosis, and finding strength in the hardest moments. A powerful listen for parents facing medical trauma and uncertainty. Links: Buy Us a Coffee FB Support

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15:14

State of Our Forever Smiles 2025 with Laura Arroyo

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/12/30

In this special solo episode, Laura Arroyo sits down to reflect on the past year of the OFS Podcast and share an honest, behind-the-scenes look at where we are and where we're headed. Laura highlights the conversations that made an impact, the lessons learned, and the themes emerging from our community. She also offers a sneak peek at upcoming topics, new initiatives, and how we're continuing to elevate support for women, moms, and families. Whether you're a longtime listener or just tuning in, this

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50:25

Life after Cleft Palate Repair with Brittnie Hampson

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/12/23

In this returning episode, Laura Arroyo sits down with Brittnie Hampson to continue the conversation about life after a surprise cleft palate diagnosis. Brittnie shares an honest look at raising her two-year-old daughter, Ava, and how her journey has evolved since her last appearance on the podcast. She opens up about the emotional shift from confidently breastfeeding her first two children to learning entirely new ways to feed a cleft-affected baby, and the steep learning curve that came with it

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48:06

The Power of Team Care: Inside the UMN Craniofacial...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/12/09

Laura Arroyo sits down with Dr. Renie Daniel, a fellowship-trained, dual-degree, board-certified cleft and craniofacial surgeon in Minneapolis and director of the University of Minnesota Cleft and Craniofacial Team. Dr. Daniel shares what inspired her to pursue cleft care, her favorite surgeries, and how her multidisciplinary team works together to educate, advocate, and empower children and adults with facial differences — all to ensure the best outcomes for families across Minnesota. Links and

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32:57

Innovations in Cleft Care for PRS: A Conversation...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/12/02

At the ACPA Annual Meeting, we sat down with Nancy Rowan and Rachel Chavati to discuss groundbreaking advancements in cleft care for Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS). Both mothers to sons born with cleft palate and PRS in the fall of 2022, they share their journeys as parents and advocates. Together, they co-founded HOAP for PRS (Healing with the Orthodontic Airway Plate for Pierre Robin Sequence), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving outcomes for PRS patients. They also highlight the

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35:12

A Full Circle Journey: Dr. Jessica Canallatos on...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/11/25

Dr. Jessica Canallatos, prosthodontist at Oishei Children's Hospital and member of the Craniofacial Team of WNY, brings a unique perspective to cleft care as someone born with a cleft herself. Specializing in Nasoalveolar Molding (NAM), neonatal ear molding, and digital prosthetics, Dr. Canallatos is passionate about transforming lives and supporting families through complex care. Recorded live at the ACPA Annual Meeting, this conversation highlights her reflections on her late mother, her inspiring

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26:23

How the Face to Face Foundation Supports Cleft...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/11/18

Recorded at the ACPA Annual Meeting, a powerful hub for knowledge sharing and connection, this episode of the Our Forever Smiles podcast features Stephanie Hassen, Executive Director of the Face to Face Foundation in Charlotte, North Carolina. Stephanie shares how her nonprofit raises funds and awards grants to cleft and craniofacial families across the Carolinas, along with the incredible community events that bring families together. As a mom of three, with her middle daughter born cleft-affected,

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53:55

Building Emotional Resilience in the Cleft Journey: A...

Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo ·

2025/11/11

Vickie Stolle, speaker, writer, and certified WISDOM Coach™, is a cleft-affected individual with first-hand experience and knowledge of the cleft journey. Born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, she blends her lived experience with her professional mission of empowering children and families. As the founder of Resilient Kid Academy, she helps families foster resilience and emotional strength in their children, an often-overlooked part of cleft care. In this episode, Vickie shares her story, her

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