It is exactly one month today since baby Frankie was diagnosed with his cleft lip and possibly palate and the sonographer at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital during a scan I had at 23 weeks uttered the words, “I can see an abnormality”. Those words changed my life forever.
In just a few short weeks I’ve gone from knowing nothing at all about cleft lip/palate to soaking up every single bit of information I could get my hands on about it like a sponge. I’ve set up this blog and charted my journey since Frankie getting his diagnosis. I’ve made some amazing friends and contacts in the Cleft Lip And Palate Association’s Faecbook Group. I’ve been in touch with the Cleft Lip And Palate Association and started to plan some fundraising activities. I’ve met with the lovely Donna Rushton and Lucy, and that pivotal moment changed my entire perception of Frankie being born with a cleft lip/palate. I’ve linked up with the Rev David Southall at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital, and been a guest blogger on his lovely blog www.revdavidsouthall.com. He wrote a lovely column about me and Frankie in the Worcester News. I’ve been interviewed by Tarik Al Rasheed at the Worcester News and a full feature is due to be in the paper next Monday. I’ve built up a large following on the Twitter and Facebook accounts for “Baby and Cleft”, and tried to raise as much awareness as possible through social media. All in just a few short weeks.
I do feel my friend Julie Guest was right, that what I’ve done so far is merely the tip of the iceberg. I’ve registered other websites including www.cleftawareness.co.uk, and I even have plans to set up The UK Cleft Awareness Association. Of course, Rome was not built in a day, and Frankie’s due date next January is fast approaching so I’ll have to take things much easier, but there are still things I can to do raise awareness from the comfort of my own home using my laptop and connection to the outside world. I’m already taking small steps towards my goals, I know it doesn’t seem like it given all I’ve achieved already, but I am compared to the pace at which I used to do things.. Patience is not one of my strong points!
I have to give some kudos and thanks as well to my wonderful husband, my parents, my friends (you know who you all are) and to everyone on my FB profile who posted when Frankie was first diagnosed with a cleft lip for all their support, love, help and thoughts. I couldn’t have got through it without them all, especially my husband who I love more than anything in the world, and my parents.
It is onwards and upwards from here on in.
