Lara Rose, born 9/25/93. Our awaited angel finally arrived.

Lara at 3 months. Lara was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. Lara experienced difficulty gaining weight. At 3 months she had a palatal appliance and ear tubes put in. The palatal appliance covered over her cleft palate and she was able to drink better and gain some weight. The ear tubes helped fluid to drain from her ear and also let her hear for the first time.

Lara gives a big WIDE SMILE at 6 months old.

Lara's bilateral cleft lip repair was done at 8 months and was very successful. Here she is at the hospital the third day after surgery. She has arm restraints to keep her from touching her lip and a stitch of thread on her tongue to keep her from pushing on the lip repair from inside her mouth.

Lara is glad to be home on the fourth day after surgery. Trying to smile and arm restraints don't bother her, she just uses her feet to play with instead.

Lara 4 weeks after her lip surgery (What a Smile!).

Lara at 24 months. At 21 months Lara had her bilateral cleft palate closed. Her palate was very wide and they used some additional reinforcing techniques on her palate. Very successful!
This is also the year that Lara was the March of Dimes Ambassador in our county. She became a regular little celebrity and we connected up with lots of other cleft affected families and friends that year.

Lara loves to dance, sing, read, paint draw, and wants to be a ballerina when she grows up.