You'll find hundreds of files on cleft lip, cleft palate here on widesmiles.org.
This one is about: Promising Smiles - Adopting a Child with a Cleft Lip and Palate
(c) 1996 Wide Smiles
This Document is from WideSmiles Website - www.widesmiles.org
Reprint in whole or in part, with out written permission from Wide Smiles
is prohibited. Email: widesmiles@aol.comPROMISING SMILES: ADOPTING A CHILD WITH A CLEFT LIP AND PALATE
Author: Joan McCartney
Publisher: Joan McCartney
18 Carroll Drive
Somerville NJ 08876
Cost: $9.95Reviewed by Carol Edson
The pictures alone are such a delight, they would make this work special even without words. Joan McCartney's booklet does a fine job of exploring most of the concerns faced by families considering the adoption of a child with a cleft lip and palate. She reviews the short and long-term aspects of parenting such children. The overall tone is up-beat, practical and encouraging.
The different types of clefts are explained, accompanied by some helpful drawings. These would be useful in educating one's family and friends about the child's appearance, unusual eating and speech. Several ideas are presented specifically for preparing the future siblings.
The "nuts and bolts" of parenting such a child in the early days of attachment are addressed, with the focus on flexibility and good preparation. Two minor criticisms I have regarding the section on "advantages for adoptive parents" are: 1) A brief discussion of grieving as it relates to infertility might have been in order. Although not every adoptive parent experiences infertility, many do; and 2) Ms McCartney addresses only the isolated cleft. Many clefts are also present in some syndromes that include other problems, such as mental retardation, etc. Like all children, illness and other maladies may befall kids with clefts. Competent medical care will be an important factor for these youngsters throughout their growing years and may in fact lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of unrelated disorders.
Surgical procedures are reviewed with helpful tips on post-operative and feeding given. I believe Joan is right when she states that often the hospital experience "...is worse for the parents than for the child."
Information regarding health insurance and financial aid, although brief, are vital considerations. The problems in getting and keeping these children covered by health plans might merit further discussion. Many carriers refuse to take them, not because they are adopted, but because they will require costly care in the future.
The booklet ends with a photo gallery of "before and after" pictures, showcasing the miracles that plastic surgery can work. The family stories add a personal touch.
A bibliography and resource listing give the reader places to go for further research. Overall, this is a valuable and well put together booklet. I'd recommend it.