Teen patient becomes role model for others diagnosed with cleft

July 26, 2022

After graduating from the Texas Cleft-Craniofacial Team program at UT Physicians, Charlotte “Charlie” Brown’s goal became to mentor children throughout their cleft journey. (Photo by Alyssa Duty, UT Physicians)

After graduating from the Texas Cleft-Craniofacial Team program at UT Physicians, Charlotte “Charlie” Brown’s goal became to mentor children throughout their cleft journey. (Photo by Alyssa Duty, UT Physicians)

From time to time, Charlotte “Charlie” Brown will be asked questions about her face and why it’s a little different. Although that may seem off-putting to some, she sees it as an opportunity to educate and spread awareness about cleft conditions.

“It’s nothing to hide. I feel like it could make some people insecure, but I’m proud of it,” she explained. “It’s made me unique, and I want to share that with other people.”

Originally from Scotland, Charlie’s diagnosis of bilateral palate and single cleft lip caught her parents off guard because of the complete lack of family history of the disorder. As an infant, she underwent multiple surgeries to repair her palate and lip. For years, everything remained stable and her family relocated to Texas.

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Written By: Simone Sonnier, UT Physicians | July 14, 2022