In this powerful episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo sits down with Lauren Greenlee, a wife, first-time mom, marketing coordinator, and owner of an online baby boys clothing boutique. Lauren shares the raw and emotional story of her son’s birth with a cleft lip and how her hospital experience fell heartbreakingly short of the care every family deserves.

She reads the compelling email she sent to the hospital, detailing the failures that occurred during her labor and delivery, and discusses why speaking up for ourselves and our children is so crucial.

Lauren also opens up about the role of her faith in navigating uncertainty, the search for a cleft community, and the connections that have brought her hope and strength.

This is an episode for anyone seeking courage, community, and the reminder that your voice matters, even when the system falls short.

Links and Resources:

• Patreon Subscription Tiers for Exclusive Content
• Our Forever Smiles Merch Store
• NC Cleft Mom FB Group
• Our Forever Smiles FB Group

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Today's sponsor is sienna dawn media Integrated Marketing Agency

sienna dawn media is more than just a marketing agency—they are your partners in progress.

Their mission is simple — to alleviate marketing bandwidth, allowing creative business owners to focus on what they set out to do: create. sienna dawn media empowers creatives to thrive without the burden of managing their own social media and marketing campaigns.

So, if you're ready to set sail toward new horizons, let sienna dawn media chart the course and steer your business toward success. Visit siennadawnmedia.com.

In this episode, Laura Arroyo sits down with Dr. Aditi Kanth, a board-certified plastic surgeon and fellowship-trained pediatric plastic and craniofacial surgeon. As co-director of the Rutgers Health Cleft and Craniofacial Program at Bristol Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Dr. Kanth shares her deep commitment to patient and family-centered care.

Together, they discuss the importance of having the right conversations with patients, creating a gentle and compassionate environment, and ensuring families feel supported throughout their cleft and craniofacial journeys. Dr. Kanth also opens up about being a mom to her two-year-old and how her personal connection to clefts in her own family fuels her passion for increasing access to care and making families feel comfortable every step of the way.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation that blends professional expertise with heartfelt dedication to the cleft community.

Links and Resources:

• Patreon Subscription Tiers for Exclusive Content
• Our Forever Smiles Merch Store
• NC Cleft Mom FB Group
• Our Forever Smiles FB Group

______________________________________________________________________________

Today's sponsor is sienna dawn media Integrated Marketing Agency

sienna dawn media is more than just a marketing agency—they are your partners in progress.

Their mission is simple — to alleviate marketing bandwidth, allowing creative business owners to focus on what they set out to do: create. sienna dawn media empowers creatives to thrive without the burden of managing their own social media and marketing campaigns.

So, if you're ready to set sail toward new horizons, let sienna dawn media chart the course and steer your business toward success. Visit siennadawnmedia.com.

In this heartfelt episode, host Laura Arroyo sits down with Krista Pietersma, founder of Cuddles for Clefts, to share an inspiring journey of love, loss, and advocacy. Krista opens up about discovering her son’s cleft diagnosis and how it fueled her desire to make a difference in the cleft community.

She explains how Cuddles for Clefts was born, an organization that provides comfort and connection through handmade blankets and care packages for cleft-affected children and families. Krista also honors the memory of her son’s beloved surgeon, Dr. David Genecov, whose tragic passing in a car accident left a lasting impact on the cleft world.

Join us for a moving conversation about finding purpose through personal trials and the power of community support.

Links and Resources:

• Cuddles for Clefts website
• Patreon Subscription Tiers for Exclusive Content
• Our Forever Smiles Merch Store
• NC Cleft Mom FB Group
• Our Forever Smiles FB Group

______________________________________________________________________________

Today's sponsor is sienna dawn media Integrated Marketing Agency

sienna dawn media is more than just a marketing agency—they are your partners in progress.

Their mission is simple — to alleviate marketing bandwidth, allowing creative business owners to focus on what they set out to do: create. sienna dawn media empowers creatives to thrive without the burden of managing their own social media and marketing campaigns.

So, if you're ready to set sail toward new horizons, let sienna dawn media chart the course and steer your business toward success. Visit siennadawnmedia.com.