A cleft lip and palate

You may not know but my son, Jake, was born with a cleft lip and palate on 8th September 2009. Since we found out at the 20 week scan we've been through the wringer and then some.

Firstly, the journey was all about discovering everything we could about the whats, whys and whens and secondly was the practical bit after he was born; the process of hospital stays, surgeries and check ups. Gladly, both major surgeries (one for the lip at 4 months and the other for the palate at 9 months) went very well and Jake is doing well and is just like any other little terror!

DMG supports the Smile Train, which a fantastic charity which teaches and provides support to doctors in some of the poorest, most remote areas of the world so that they can go into the villages and townships to repairs clefts of children and adults who would otherwise spend their lives ostracised by communities ignorant of the condition.

If you have a moment, please check the Smile Train's website to discover all about the inspiring and efficient work they do.