In this heartfelt episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura Arroyo sits down with pediatric dentist and cleft mom Dr. Jordan Virden for an honest conversation about navigating the cleft journey from both sides of the chair. As a volunteer on the Johns Hopkins Cleft Team and a first-time mom to baby Eli, Jordan shares what it was like receiving a prenatal cleft diagnosis despite already working closely with cleft patients throughout her professional career.

Together, Laura and Jordan discuss the emotional reality of hearing "your baby has a cleft," preparing for labor and delivery, feeding challenges, lip adhesion surgery, and the unique perspective of being both a provider and a parent. Jordan also offers valuable insight into cleft-related dental care, including missing teeth, extra teeth, oral hygiene concerns, and what parents should expect as their child grows.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Receiving a cleft diagnosis during the anatomy scan
• Preparing emotionally and medically for birth
• Lip adhesion surgery and recovery
• Feeding with specialty bottles and the blue disc system
• Common dental differences in children with clefts
• Preventing cavities and oral health complications
• The emotional toll of surgeries and returning to work postpartum
• Advocacy, resilience, and supporting cleft families

This conversation is full of warmth, reassurance, practical guidance, and hope for parents navigating life with a child born with a cleft lip or palate. Whether you're newly diagnosed or years into your journey, this episode reminds you that your child can thrive — and so can you.

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In this deeply informative and compassionate episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Bethea sits down with longtime genetic counselor Robin Imagire to unpack one of the biggest questions cleft families ask: Why did this happen?

With over 30 years of experience working alongside craniofacial teams, Robin shares honest insight into the complex world of cleft genetics, including what "multifactorial" really means, why most clefts don't have a clear-cut answer, and how environmental and genetic factors may work together. Laura also opens up about her daughter Giselle's cleft palate journey, her family's experience with genetic testing, and the emotional weight many parents carry while searching for answers.

Together, they discuss:

• Why NIPT testing often doesn't detect clefts
• Common syndromes associated with cleft lip and palate
• Pierre Robin Sequence, Van der Woude syndrome, and 22q deletion
• The truth about the MTHFR gene and cleft rumors online
• Whether clefts can be prevented
• The emotional side of receiving a diagnosis as a parent

This episode is filled with reassurance, practical education, and the reminder every cleft parent needs to hear: you are not alone, and this is not your fault.

Whether you're newly diagnosed, navigating surgeries, or simply trying to better understand your child's cleft journey, this conversation offers clarity, comfort, and hope.

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In this deeply moving episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo sits down with Maria, a cleft mom from Greece, to share her powerful journey of navigating a prenatal cleft diagnosis, unexpected fear, and finding strength through motherhood and community.

Maria opens up about the emotional moment she learned her son had a cleft lip, the devastating and ultimately incorrect Down syndrome scare she received from her first doctor, and how that experience forever changed her as a mother, wife, and advocate. She shares the realities of cleft care in Greece, where resources and feeding supplies are limited, and how a small but passionate Facebook community of cleft families became a lifeline of support.

Together, Laura and Maria discuss NICU experiences, surgery fears, feeding challenges, postpartum emotions, and the incredible resilience parents discover when advocating for their children. This episode is a heartfelt reminder that no matter where you are in the world, cleft families are connected through love, courage, and community.

Whether you are newly diagnosed, preparing for surgery, or simply searching for reassurance, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, supported, and less alone.

Links:

Greek FB Group

Buy Us a Coffee

FB Support Group