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Scot's Story
Hello everyone!! My name is Scot, yep, only 1 T. I am 33 years old, and I too have a cleft palate. I decided today to see what info I could find on cleft palates, and came across this page. I too was teased while growing up. I was easy prey, because I had my birth defect, plus I was smaller than most people. However, I turned it into a positive. I came to realize that it didn't matter what people thought of me, because I am what I am (or as Popeye would say... I yam what I yam). So, from about the time I became a teenager, I didn't care what people thought of me. I was going to do what I wanted, when I wanted, and how I wanted. In high school, I was about 5' 8", and weighed about 110lbs. But, that never stopped me from going after what I wanted. Since I was smaller than most, people felt I was an easy target to pick on. They were WRONG!! I never got in a fight at school, probably because bullies tend to back down when you won't back down. So, after people realized I wouldn't back down, I wasn't picked on anymore.
Upon graduating high school, I joined the Marines. So, to Candace, who was worried about the Army, and not telling her past, don't let that bother you. I was in the worlds most elite fighting force, and I was never bothered, and no questions ever came about. After 4 years in the Marines, I got a job at Sprint Communications, where I have been for 11 years now. I am married to a wonderful woman who doesn't even notice my defect, 2 beautiful daughters, 8 pets (had nine until a hamster died yesterday). I have a good life. Due to the cleft palate, it has made me a better person. I have accomplished everything I have set out to do. My friends can't believe it. I say I'm going to do something, and it gets done. I told my girlfriend back in 1986 (while still in the Marines) that I was going to work for Sprint someday. 1 year later when I got out, I was working for Sprint. I also tend to have to be the best at whatever I do. In any job that I have had, I was top dog.
Now for my surgeries. The last surgery for my defect was in 1977 when I was 12. That was to close off the air passage in the back of my throat, so I wouldn't have to wear that retainer with the bulb on it. Crippled Childrens dropped me after that saying that my parent made too much money (hahaha)!!! My dentist was put in prison for insurance fraud. I did have surgery in 1989 to correct my underbite. I was in braces for 2 years, had the surgery, and then my mouth was wired shut for 6 weeks (damn I starved)!! This surgery was covered by my insurance (thank God.... $25,000). In 1991, I had surgery to correct a deviated septum. Now I am looking to get my nose straightened, and so it won't be flat anymore. Hopefully this will help my breathing problem. No, I breath fine, but the left nostril isn't in the greatest shape. What I wanted to point out in my letter is that everyone has the opportunity to make the most of their situation. You are what you are, you do not have to impress anyone, as long as you are happy about what you do, and who YOU are!! We are all special people, make the best of what you are, and what you have. The friends and spouses that you have are special too, they have lloked past your birth defect, and have accepted you for who you are, not what you look like.