Story of the Month

Welcome to the Cleft Palate Foundation’s Story of the Month!

Since April 2002, the Cleft Palate Foundation has been inviting people to share their stories about being affected by a facial birth defect. Over time, we will feature the perspectives of parents, children, teenagers, and adults affected by facial differences.

The purpose of this column is to share common life experiences, not to describe treatment. If you would like to participate, please contact Emily Kiser.

Chronological Listings / Listings By Subject / Blogs / Videos / En Español

Listings by Subject: First Child – Second or Later Child – Adoption – Cleft Undetected Before Birth – School Aged Child – Teenager/Young Adult – Adult – Elder Parents – Multiple Children with Facial Birth Defects – Other Syndromes – CPF Spokespersons

Chronological Listings

2011 – 2010 – 2009 – 2008 – 2007 – 2006 – 2005 – 2004 – 2003 – 2002

October 2011 Stefano’s Update!
A photo update on Stefano, our May 2006 Story of the Month.
Stefano’s update in PDF format

September 2011 Ayla’s Story
Young adult born with a cleft lip.
Ayla’s story in PDF format

August 2011 Michelle’s Story
Adult born with craniosynostosis, hypertelorism, and frontonasal syndrome.
Michelle’s story in PDF format

July 2011 Yagiz’s Story
First child, born with a cleft lip.
Yagiz’s story in PDF format

May 2011 – Christopher Stadulis
Adult born with a cleft lip and palate.
Christopher’s story in PDF format

March 2011 – Peyton Marie Hall
First child, born with a cleft of the soft palate.
Peyton’s story in PDF format

February 2011 – Mia’s Story
Fourth child, born with cleft lip and palate.
Mia’s story in PDF format

January 2011 – Katye Trexler
Born with a cleft palate, Katye was recently named Miss Pennsylvania Teenager.
Katye’s story in PDF format

November 2010 – Jessica Puma
Teenager born with cleft lip and palate.
Jessica’s story in PDF format

September 2010 – Casen’s Story
Fourth child, born October 2009, with cleft lip.
Casen’s story in PDF format

August 2010 – Tamala Coleman
Adult born with a cleft lip and palate.
Tamala’s story in PDF format

July 2010 – Update: Hunter Stitely Turns Two!
Hunter’s mom, Lacey, fills us in on what Hunter’s been up to since his story was published in October 2008.
Hunter’s update in PDF format

March 2010 – Roger Grabman
Adult born with cleft lip tells about his moustache transplant.
Roger’s story in PDF format

January 2010 – Nicole Giron
Teenager born with cleft lip and palate.
Nicole’s story in PDF format

November 2009 – Stephanie Mohrbacher
Adult born with a cleft palate.
Stephanie’s story in PDF format

September 2009 – Carson All
First child, born January 2009, with cleft lip.
Carson’s story in PDF format

July 2009 – Brandon’s Blog
Brandon Burditt was born with bilateral cleft lip and palate. Follow his story on this blog.

May 2009 – Gina Butchin
Adult with cleft lip and palate shares her story.
Gina’s story in PDF format

April 2009 – Update: Charlotte Gould Turns One!
Charlotte and her family share a great idea for birthday gifts!
Check out Charlotte’s original story from September 2008.
Charlotte’s update in PDF format

March 2009 – The Cogswell Family’s Story
Problem solving for son with cleft lip and palate.
The Cogswell Family’s story in PDF format

December 2008 – Ariana Lemkuil
First child, born June 2007, with unilateral cleft lip.
Ariana’s story in PDF format

November 2008 – Jeana Sue Storey
Story of Jeana’s second palate reconstruction.
Jeana Sue’s story in PDF format

October 2008 – The Stitely Family
First child, born May 2008, with bilateral cleft lip and palate.
The Stitely Family’s story in PDF format

September 2008 – Charlotte Gould
Daughter, born March 2008, with unilateral cleft lip and palate.
Update on Charlotte – April 2009
Charlotte’s story in PDF format

July 2008 – Isaac Robert Madson
Son, born December 2007, with unilateral cleft lip.
Isaac’s story in PDF format

November 2007 – Joliet Sanaa
Daughter, born May 2007, with bilateral cleft lip and palate.
Joliet’s story in PDF format

October 2007 – Deklan’s Story
First child, born August 2006, with unilateral cleft lip and palate.

September 2007 – The Jeffers Family
First child, born December 2006, with cleft palate.

August 2007 – La Historia de Bruno
Gemelo nació con labio hendido y paladar hendido.
Bruno’s Story
Twin born with cleft lip and palate.

July 2007 – Santiago Moreno
Fraternal twin, born May 2005, with bilateral cleft lip and cleft palate.

June 2007 – Brennan Helmer
First child, born January 2007, with unilateral cleft lip and palate.

December 2006 – We’ve Made it Through the First Year!
An update on Ella Yvonne Ramos, fourth child with cleft lip and palate.

November 2006 – The Sabo Family
Five children, four with either isolated cleft palate or cleft lip and palate.

October 2006 – Keagan’s Story
Second child, born with cleft palate.

September 2006 – The Pertgen Family
First child, born September 2005, with previously undetected cleft palate.

August 2006 – Haley’s Story
Young adult, born with cleft palate.

July 2006 – Dominic’s Story
First child, adopted newborn, born November 2005, with bilateral cleft lip and palate.

June 2006 – Manaia Benjamin Ala
Second child, born November 2005, with cleft lip and palate.

May 2006 – Stefano’s Story
First child, born January 2005, with cleft lip to 42 year old mom.

March 2006 – Ella Yvonne Ramos
Fourth child, born August 2005, with cleft lip and palate.

November 2005 – Claire Crawford
Teenager, born with cleft lip and palate spokesperson, fundraiser and advocate.

October 2005 – Ethan Katsumi Jessop
Son born October 2002, with bilateral cleft lip and palate.

September 2005 – It’s a Boy
Third child, born with cleft lip not previously detected.

August 2005 – Quinn Sliment
Second child, born June 2004, with previously undetected bilateral cleft lip and palate.

June 2005 – Avery Anna Walther
Avery Anna Walther – Fourth child, born June 2004, with previously undetected unilateral cleft lip and palate.

May 2005 – Starr Van Keuren
Adult, born with cleft lip and palate (both repaired).

March 2005 – Madgeline Paige Statzer
Second child, born August 2004, with unilateral cleft lip.

February 2005 – Lissa Holmes
Adult, born with cleft lip, social worker and former Cleftline Manager.

January 2005 – Zoe Lynn
First child, born June 2004, with bilateral cleft lip.

December 2004 – Rose Senerchia
Adult, born with cleft lip and palate.

November 2004 – Jasilyn Sitzmann
First child, born October 2003, with previously undetected cleft lip and palate.

October 2004 – Graci Brown
First child, born with unilateral cleft lip and palate and hemifacial microsomnia.

September 2004 – Cody Luckey’s Story / Follow up: What a Difference a Year Can Make
First child (one of twins), born January 2004, with bilateral cleft lip and palate.

August 2004 – Alisher’s International Adoption
Adopted 17 month old, born 2002, with bilateral cleft lip and palate.

July 2004 – Emma Radenslaben
Third child, born May 2003, with cleft lip and palate.

June 2004 – Frances Evans
First child, born March 2001, with previously undetected cleft palate.

May 2004 – A Story from Overseas
First child, born with previously undetected unilateral cleft lip and palate.

April 2004 – Kendal Tullis’ Story
Teenager, born 1990, with cleft lip and palate.

March 2004 – Jennifer Balistreri’s Story
First child, born January 2003, with unilateral cleft lip.

February 2004 – George and Kristine Dale’s Story: Goldenhar Syndrome
First child, born September 1999, with Goldenhar Syndrome.

January 2004 – Angelo Stallone
First child, born September 2002, with previously undetected bilateral cleft lip and palate.

December 2003 – Jacqueline Denise Militano
Teenager, theater major, born with cleft palate.

November 2003 – The McDade Family: Michael, Randa and Logan
First child, born with previously undetected cleft lip.

October 2003 – The Sivertsen Family / Follow Up: William Sivertsen – Five Years Later
Son born March 2000, with previously undetected cleft lip. Follow up 5 years later.

September 2003 – Marie Solleder
Adult, born September 1960, with cleft lip and palate.

August 2003 – Joey, Benjamin, and Mathias’ Story
Three brothers, born with clefts.

July 2003 – The Aberl Family / Follow Up: 2 Years Later
Son born December 2002, with previously undetected cleft lip and palate and Popliteal Pterygium syndrome. Check out Shawn’s video on YouTube

June 2003 – The Kauffman Family
First child, born January 2002, with bilateral cleft lip and palate.

May 2003 – Josh Melton’s Story
Third child, born with previously undetected cleft lip and palate.

April 2003 – Mark Anthony Auclair
Adult, born 1982, with cleft lip and palate.

March 2003 – The Keith Family
Second child, born January 1993, with previously undetected cleft lip.

February 2003 – The Campbell Family
First child, born September 2001, with bilateral cleft lip and palate.

January 2003 – Peach’s Story on Tessier Clefts
Second child, born with Tessier cleft.

December 2002 – Craig Nabat’s Story
Adult, born with cleft lip and palate, entrepreneur.

Thanksgiving 2002 – Nicolás from Chile / en español
First child, born with previously undetected cleft lip.

November 2002 – T. Marie Nicaise
Young adult, born with unilateral cleft lip.

October 2002 – Stacy Keach
Adult, born with cleft lip and palate, award-winning actor.

September 2002 – The Fryman Family
Second child, born with previously undetected cleft lip.

August 2002 – Teen Stories
Three teenagers tell their stories of growing up with cleft lip and palate.

July 2002 – The Hopkins Family
Second child, born May 2001, with bilateral cleft lip and palate.

June 2002 – The Sprunt Family
Third child, born with bilateral cleft lip and palate.

May 2002 – The Dodds Family
Third child, born July 2001, with previously undetected cleft palate.

April 2002 – NFL Quarterback Jim Harbaugh and his wife Miah Harbaugh’s Story
Second child, born with previously undetected cleft palate.

Listings By Subject

Blogs

Gina Butchin’s Blog
Gina Butchin is an adult with cleft lip and palate.

Brandon’s Blog
Brandon Burditt was born March 2008 with bilateral cleft lip and palate.

The Fowler Family Blog
Read about the Fowler Family’s adventures. Jimmy and Johnny Fowler are brothers who both have cleft lip and palate.

If you would like to share your blog, please contact us.

Videos

If you would like to share your video, please contact us.

Shawn Aberl on YouTube
Watch Shawn, featured as Story of the Month in July 2003, dance with an external fixator to “I Wanna be a Rockstar” by Nickelback.

Johnny Fowler’s First Year
Watch the Fowler family’s video celebrating Johnny Fowler’s first year of life. Read more about the Fowlers on their blog. Both Jimmy and Johnny were born with cleft lip and palate.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

En Español

La Historia de Mateo
La Historia de Bruno de México
Nicolás de Chile

Cleft Palate Foundation

1-800-24-CLEFT

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