Hello family and friends,
In 2019 our lives were forever changed with the addition to our family, Noah. We were excited for a new son to join in the shenanigan's with his 3 older brothers but we were also shocked when we were presented with the news of Noah being diagnosed with a cleft lip and palate at his 20 weeks anatomy ultrasound. From that appointment on our lives were forever changed; we were confused, scared, worried. Then like a beacon coming from a lighthouse in a dark storm we met our future cleft team and we walked out of that appointment with our fears relieved, and our worries disappeared with the simple words of "it will be ok we are here for Noah".
Noah was born with a left sided unilateral cleft lip and palate. He had his first surgery at 3 months old to repair his lip and his second surgery at 10 months old to repair his palate. Noah bounced back from each surgery and today he is a lively, spunky 2 year old that is always on the move.
Noah's cleft journey is still on going. Noah is in speech therapy twice a week for him adapt to his new palate, Noah has had two separate surgeries to place ear tubes and he sees ENT and Audiology every 4 months, and lastly Noah's next (but not last cleft related surgery) surgery will be when he is between 6-8 years old.
We are one of the lucky ones to have found a great cleft team with a skilled surgeon with an equally kind heart. We are also blessed to have insurance in order to be able to afford all of Noah's cleft care. Unfortunately, there are many that cannot afford the care that a cleft child and adult requires. The Florida Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (FCPA) would like to change that. With your donation or your sign up to run/walk for this awareness fun-run we can give back to the Florida cleft cuties that make this Sunshine state even sunnier. The FCPA's goal is to provide all all patients with supreme care and state of the art technology regardless of means of payment. Please help the FCPA make this dream a reality for us and for our beloved cleft and crainofacial patients.
All sign ups and donation are greatly appreciated.
All our love,
Zack, Jess and Noah the Cleft Warrior
