I'm sure in the beginning it probably seemed pretty overwhelming for my parents. Daddy was deployed often - back then Marines deployed for two years at a time and families didn't travel with them. They stayed behind. So here they were, stationed in a tiny little town in North Carolina being told that their best bet would be to take their newborn to Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia because there wasn’t any formal treatment available in North Carolina.

Blessing #1 - We had a round of about 4 or 5 doctors until I was about 5 years old that, honestly, aren't worth mentioning. Then came Dr. Getz. If memory serves, I was his first cleft lip/palate and I think the young doc was probably as nervous as my folks. But he was talented and patient; he also did something I rarely see doctors do - he talked to the kid rather than the parents. See, its very intimidating listening to doctors and parents discussing what’s going to happen to you. Sometimes the doctors come in groups, they break out china markers and draw on your face, discussing you like you're a science experiment. Dr. Getz never did that. He explained to me what was going to happen, what he hoped to accomplish, and that it might work, it might not. I remember times when he'd forget my parents were in the room and they'd have to interrupt to get him to repeat something. It may have been frustrating for them at times but I'm grateful that they let him continue to treat me in that regard - like it was my body, my choices, my cleft. Dr. Getz was a gift - I couldn't have asked for better results or a kinder man. He even got us in touch with a phenomenal orthodontist which brings me to...

Blessing #2 - Dr. Louis Marconyak is an orthodontist here in Virginia Beach. The man works small miracles when it comes to ortho-reconstruction. He built me these little retainers with fake teeth on them between surgeries with Dr. Getz when he found out that the kids teased me for being a pre-teen who still had teeth missing. I loved Dr. Marconyak and Dr. Getz like family...

Blessing #3 - But in the end I have only one family and they are truly the greatest blessing of all. At 35, I have realized that my parents suffered in that waiting room more than they assumed I was suffering in the OR - I wasn't suffering, I was sleeping! They had to endure every second, waiting for that nurse or doctor to come tell them I was ok. And the unnecessary guilt they felt! We were stationed in North Carolina for 12 years and my parents drove me to Portsmouth Naval every year, sometimes 2 and 3 times a year for check ups, surgeries, appointments. My sister, Kelly, probably felt left out and maybe even forgotten at times. She is 11 years older than me and not only did I steal the "only child" spotlight from her when I came along, but I came with my own "special" spotlight. I can't imagine how hard that must have been on her. But if she felt any anger or resentment towards me, I never knew it. YaYa protected me and loved me – I couldn’t have asked for anyone better.

Now I know this day and age, children born with cleft lips/palates are so very fortunate. The medical advancement in treating it is mind-boggling to me. But the options that parents have today for their kids in one surgery, took 4 and 5 (or more) in the late 1970s and 80s. Sometimes I read blogs from clefts that are really…depressing! I’m so grateful that my experience was different. I do believe in that old adage that the good Lord doesn’t give you more than you can handle. He gave me 3 blessings in life and for that I’m truly grateful.