As most of you know, Ruth Fleshman, Cleft Team Coordinator, has retired last week. I am very thankful that Ruth and Dr. T chose me to fill the big shoes that Ruth has worn in the last 12 years. Within the last 3 months, I’ve had the opportunity to meet the strongest parents, the brightest children, and work with the THE BEST Craniofacial-Cleft Team around! I’ve also been able to meet our newborn babies at the hospitals, giving parents reassurance that everything will be ok and that nothing in the world is more precious than to have their baby look into their parents’ eyes for the first time. I hold prenatal consults with expecting parents, giving them knowledge about their child’s cleft lip/palate and what to expect for the next 18 to 21 years.
I do have to say that everyone involved with one child’s care has made a tremendous impact in one way or another. Being the coordinator, I see the rewards it brings to the team. It humbles me to know how much of a difference my job can make in families’ lives. That feeling didn’t hit me until an expecting mother, who is carrying their first child, wrote me this email, “We met yesterday for our prenatal consultation. I just wanted to take the time to thank you for explaining everything so thoroughly to us. I had a lot of mixed emotions when we first found out about her cleft and I must admit I feel a little guilty for the way I would feel some days. After meeting with you and Dr. T we feel a million times better about taking this on. You can only read so many blogs and google so many pictures before your brain explodes! Not to make this long but we really appreciate you and the cleft team. We feel like our sweet girl is in the right hands and we DEFINITELY made the right choice to come to you guys”.
Thanks again for everyone’s warm welcome, and I look forward to meeting you all!
Sincerely,
Leanne