Cleft Lip and/or Palette

[adele]

Well done Leesha and Taj

[leesha]

Hey everyone,

Hope you all have a wonderful christmas and the new year is a happy and healthy one for all!!!

I have posted some pics of Taj and he is doing so well...he looks so good!!! I am missing his big smile tho!!!!

Alisha
xoxoxoxoxo

[leesha]

Havn't popped my head into this thread since before chrissy and noticed noone has posted anything!
Hope you are all well and the little one's are doing great!

Taj is now fully healed and eating soilds! Sittting up by himself but not yet crawling! Saying what sounds like Dadda but I'm not convinced it is that! Not fair we do all the hard work and they say dad first!!!! He is now 7 months old and can't believe it has been 7 months since I made my first post in here looking for support! Where does the time go!!!

Im keen to know how everyone is going and if there is anyone new lurking around wanting to have a chat with us!!!!

xoxoxoxo

[Smx83]

Hi all, thought I'd add my little message to say hello and that Taylor's op went well in Dec although it was an unpleasant overnight in the hospital seeing poor Taylor in a bit of pain but she made a quick recovery and went home the next day! She learned to swallow almost immediately after her op...have no idea if this is the norm but it was just a blessing to watch! It probably took her 4 weeks to be completely herself again (we had to take her dummy off her cold turkey after her op as well) but is doing fantastic! How are all the mums out there and hope you all had a wonderful christmas!! xx

[Nettie]

Hey-ya everyone!

We're doing great. Had a fabbo Christmas. We flew to Brisbane on boxing day and Liam did fabulously. No problems with the pressure of the airplane - just bit annoyed at being cooped up! Slept through one landing & one take off...

Our op is in 6 weeks (2 March) but I'm trying not to think about it too much. I'll worry about it in a few weeks!

I was talking to someone I've known for many years yesterday and I discovered that she & her family sponsored a Mum & daughter to come over from Indonesia to have a cleft repair done at the Cranio Facial Unit in Adelaide. They did the fundraising and have had them staying at their house while it went on. The daughter is 2 years old and has a complete cleft everything (pretty much a big hole in the middle of her face). Even her nose was almost non-existent. The girl is still recovering from surgery which only took place about 2 weeks ago.

I'm so proud of her (and I told her so!) - the family she helped is a very poor family in a very poor village without access to ANY healthcare.

Aren't we all VERY fortunate??

Hope your bubbas are great. I'm really looking forward to Liam eating proper food as he's so ready in every sense except the cleft. He seems frustrated sometimes and it's the only part of his development to be slowed.

[leesha]

Toni isn't it great when you hear those lovely stories of people helping others! They are so fortunate to be able to come over here, have an operation and a chance at a better life!! Taj's surgeon is always on "smile missions" overseas working for free to repair clefts on kids...I take my hat off to him..

Well not long now till the surgery but everything will be fine! I know it's hard not to worry.. I took Taj in while they gave him the anesthetic for his big operation but when he had to go back the following week to have stitches out I let my hubby take him in..it was too heartbreaking for me to do it again..So my thought is maybe you should let your hubby take Liam in.

I was curious to see what it was like but it just made me cry as soon as I walked out of there! However he came out trumps like a little trooper..they are so strong our bubba's! Positive thoughts coming your way!!

Will be great when he can finally eat properly..he will be a new little eating machine!!!!

[Nettie]

Thanks Leesha.

I'm starting to get a bit nervous about the surgery now so any words of encouragement are welcome! I think I need it...

DH is more sensitive than I am, so I may need to be the strong one and take him in. We haven't fully discussed it yet. Leave that for another week or so...