When the System Falls Short: Faith, Advocacy, and a Cleft Lip Journey with Lauren Greenlee
Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo
Release Date: 07/29/2025
State of Our Forever Smiles 2025 with Laura Arroyo
Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo
In this special solo episode, Laura Arroyo sits down to reflect on the past year of the OFS Podcast and share an honest, behind-the-scenes look at where we are and where we’re headed. Laura highlights the conversations that made an impact, the lessons learned, and the themes emerging from our community. She also offers a sneak peek at upcoming topics, new initiatives, and how we’re continuing to elevate support for women, moms, and families. Whether you’re a longtime listener or just tuning in, this episode is a heartfelt, transparent update on the journey so far—and an exciting look...
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Life after Cleft Palate Repair with Brittnie Hampson
Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo
In this returning episode, Laura Arroyo sits down with Brittnie Hampson to continue the conversation about life after a surprise cleft palate diagnosis. Brittnie shares an honest look at raising her two-year-old daughter, Ava, and how her journey has evolved since her last appearance on the podcast. She opens up about the emotional shift from confidently breastfeeding her first two children to learning entirely new ways to feed a cleft-affected baby, and the steep learning curve that came with it. Brittnie also shares how she’s turned her experience into advocacy by educating nurses through...
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The Story Behind Magical Moments: Dr. Kirschner & Catherine Bingham on Changing Lives
Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo
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:
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The Power of Team Care: Inside the UMN Craniofacial Clinic with Dr. Daniel
Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo
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:
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Innovations in Cleft Care for PRS: A Conversation with Nancy Rowan and Rachel Chiavatti
Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo
At the ACPA Annual Meeting, we sat down with Nancy Rowan and Rachel Chiavatti 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...
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A Full Circle Journey: Dr. Jessica Canallatos on Cleft Care, NAM, and Purpose
Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo
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....
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How the Face to Face Foundation Supports Cleft Families in the Carolinas | ACPA Annual Meeting
Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo
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...
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Building Emotional Resilience in the Cleft Journey: A Conversation with Vickie Stolle
Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo
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...
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Cleft Palate Repair and Parenting Insights with Summer Kormushoff
Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo
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:
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School-Age Cleft Journeys: Stacy Swope on Buccal Flap & Bone Graft Success with Son Benjamin
Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo
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...
info_outlineIn this powerful episode of Our Forever Smiles, host Laura Arroyo sits down with Lauren Greenlee, a wife, first-time mom, marketing coordinator, and owner of an online baby boys clothing boutique. Lauren shares the raw and emotional story of her son’s birth with a cleft lip and how her hospital experience fell heartbreakingly short of the care every family deserves.
She reads the compelling email she sent to the hospital, detailing the failures that occurred during her labor and delivery, and discusses why speaking up for ourselves and our children is so crucial.
Lauren also opens up about the role of her faith in navigating uncertainty, the search for a cleft community, and the connections that have brought her hope and strength.
This is an episode for anyone seeking courage, community, and the reminder that your voice matters, even when the system falls short.
Links and Resources:
- Patreon Subscription Tiers for Exclusive Content
- Our Forever Smiles Merch Store
- NC Cleft Mom FB Group
- Our Forever Smiles FB Group
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