Susie Patton
My name is Susie and I am 25 years old.
It’s hard to know where to start but I guess I’ll go back to when I was born.
I had a pretty rough start at the beginning of my life as I was born with not only a cleft lip and palate, but also with curvature of the spine. My operations started in Melbourne when I was only six weeks old and continued under the same doctor for eight years. Unfortunately, my doctor became ill and the decision was made to go to Adelaide. Even though it was a long way from home, I had the support of my family from extended family members who lived close. I have become very fond of my current doctor and his team and I am very pleased with the decision we made.
Most of my childhood memories are of hospitals. Memories of needles, drips, and the beeping sound of hospital equipment, and how the ceiling looks when you are wheeled into surgery. I did have some fun doing wheelies in the wheel chairs (when the nurses weren’t looking), and making the most of the attention.
The worst operation I have ever experienced was when they had to break my jaw and keep my mouth wired shut for what seemed like an eternity. This happened over Christmas, which made it seem that much worse. While everyone sat around the table to eat a Christmas lunch, I sat in front of the TV watching ‘Batman Forever’. Mum said as a special treat I was able to have Coke, so she tied a bow around my syringe that I used to squirt into my mouth. My Mum has been my rock and always at my side whenever I was wheeled into surgery, and she was always there when I woke up after.
I don’t know what other people who like me were born with a cleft lip and palate see when they look in the mirror, but I don’t see anything wrong with me. However, you can’t help but know that after over 20 operations there must have been quite a bit wrong with me, so I feel quite blessed. Occasionally I still have people that stare at me, but now instead of assuming that people are staring because they have noticed my cleft; I often wonder if they are staring because they think I am pretty. I prefer the latter.
I have never wanted people’s pity and it might sound crazy, but I can now look at my time in hospital as a positive thing. It has made me a stronger person and made me more compassionate about other people’s problems. I realize that no matter how bad I had it, there are others worse off than me.
I have a wonderful family who has given me nothing but love and support during my hard times. My boyfriend of 3 years and I are looking forward to the future and spending more time away from hospitals.