Laura Arroyo talks with Dr. Richard Kirschner and Catherine Bingham about the Magical Moments Foundation, a wish-granting organization for children with facial differences. Brought to you by the ACPA — the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association, supporting interdisciplinary cleft and craniofacial teams.

Links and Resources:

• Magical Moments Nomination Form
• Buy Me a Coffee

Laura Arroyo sits down with Dr. Renie Daniel, a fellowship-trained, dual-degree, board-certified cleft and craniofacial surgeon in Minneapolis and director of the University of Minnesota Cleft and Craniofacial Team. Dr. Daniel shares what inspired her to pursue cleft care, her favorite surgeries, and how her multidisciplinary team works together to educate, advocate, and empower children and adults with facial differences — all to ensure the best outcomes for families across Minnesota.

Links and Resources:

• University of MN Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic
• Buy Me a Coffee

At the ACPA Annual Meeting, we sat down with Nancy Rowan and Rachel Chavati to discuss groundbreaking advancements in cleft care for Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS). Both mothers to sons born with cleft palate and PRS in the fall of 2022, they share their journeys as parents and advocates. Together, they co-founded HOAP for PRS (Healing with the Orthodontic Airway Plate for Pierre Robin Sequence), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving outcomes for PRS patients. They also highlight the pioneering work of Dr. HyeRan Choo at Stanford, who is leading the way in creating less invasive treatment options. Learn more about their mission at www.hoapforprs.com.

Links and Resources:

• Buy us a Coffee

Dr. Jessica Canallatos, prosthodontist at Oishei Children's Hospital and member of the Craniofacial Team of WNY, brings a unique perspective to cleft care as someone born with a cleft herself. Specializing in Nasoalveolar Molding (NAM), neonatal ear molding, and digital prosthetics, Dr. Canallatos is passionate about transforming lives and supporting families through complex care. Recorded live at the ACPA Annual Meeting, this conversation highlights her reflections on her late mother, her inspiring path in dentistry, and what it means to give back to a community she personally understands.

Links and Resources:

Buy Me a Coffee Campaign

Jessica Canallatos on IG

Recorded at the ACPA Annual Meeting, a powerful hub for knowledge sharing and connection, this episode of the Our Forever Smiles podcast features Stephanie Hassen, Executive Director of the Face to Face Foundation in Charlotte, North Carolina. Stephanie shares how her nonprofit raises funds and awards grants to cleft and craniofacial families across the Carolinas, along with the incredible community events that bring families together. As a mom of three, with her middle daughter born cleft-affected, Stephanie brings both personal passion and professional dedication to her mission of empowering families.

Links and Resources:

Facebook Group

Buy Me a Coffee Campaign

Face to Face Organization

Vickie Stolle, speaker, writer, and certified WISDOM Coach™, is a cleft-affected individual with first-hand experience and knowledge of the cleft journey. Born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, she blends her lived experience with her professional mission of empowering children and families. As the founder of Resilient Kid Academy, she helps families foster resilience and emotional strength in their children, an often-overlooked part of cleft care. In this episode, Vickie shares her story, her insights on emotional well-being, and practical strategies for supporting kids beyond the medical side of cleft treatment.

Support Links:

Buy Me a Coffee

Resilient Kid Academy

Did you catch our conversation with Vickie Stolle of Resilient Kid Academy?

Vickie specializes in working with children and parents in the cleft community, focusing on building resilience and turning differences into strengths. Whether your child needs one-on-one Child Coaching to cultivate strong self-worth and confidently engage with others or you need guidance on effective Parent Coaching strategies for emotional support, Vickie can help you find the tools you need.

Resilient Kid Academy is a wonderful resource for making sure your child feels capable and proud every day as they navigate their unique journey.

Enjoy a 10% Discount! Simply mention you're an Our Forever Smiles listener when you schedule your complimentary discovery call, and you'll receive 10% off your first coaching package with Resilient Kid Academy.

Book your discovery call today: https://calendly.com/resilientkidacademy/15-minutediscoverycall

Returning for her third appearance, Summer Kormushoff opens up about her son's palate repair journey. She shares valuable tips for parents preparing for surgery, including practical advice and emotional insight. We also reflect on her previous episodes where she discussed receiving her son's cleft diagnosis and navigating lip repair. This full-circle conversation offers encouragement and guidance for parents at every stage of the cleft journey.

Links and Resources:

• Buy us a Coffee

In this inspiring episode, Laura Arroyo sits down with Stacy Swope — special education teacher, mom of two, and first-time author — to share the story of her son Benjamin's cleft journey. From infancy through the school years, Benjamin has undergone a series of life-changing treatments and surgeries, including NAM, ear tubes, cleft lip and palate repairs, a two-part buccal flap procedure to improve speech and lengthen his palate, and two bone grafts using both hip and cadaver bone.

Stacy opens up about what it's like to navigate the evolving medical needs of school-aged children affected by cleft lip and palate, the challenges and victories along the way, and the importance of creating supportive communities for families. She also gives us a glimpse into her upcoming children's book designed to encourage and empower cleft-affected kids and their families.

Whether you're a parent, caregiver, or advocate, this conversation is filled with hope, resilience, and practical insight for every stage of the cleft journey.

Links and Resources:

• A Sparkle You Carry