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CleftProud

@cleftproud

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As the largest cleft community in the world, CleftProud is dedicated to empowering and supporting every person affected by cleft lip and palate.

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A difference in appearance should never become a reason for a child to feel less worthy of love.

Children born with cleft and other congenital differences deserve kindness and not cruelty, acceptance and not ridicule, inclusion and not discrimination.
They don’t need to be fixed to deserve respect. They need a world that sees beyond their differences. 💙

Choose kindness. Stop bullying. Every child deserves to smile without fear. 🥰😊

#cleft #notobullying #smiletrain #luth #viralreels

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Day one of star of Australia! What a blast and I’m so proud of myself for speaking up about my journey that hasn’t always been easy! It’s been a roller coaster but I’m so blessed to have this platform to support, help and raise awareness for my cleft family! My advice to you don’t ever let people to tell you that you can’t because you absolutely can look at me I never imagined I’d be selected to walk multiple runways and I have I’m so proud of all of you and I hope my videos help show you anything is possible we are better then the bullies and can overcome any obstacle life throughs at us! 🫶🫶 #follow #support #fyp #myjourney #cleft @cleftpalsvictoria @clefts.with.confidence

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What if a voice that once struggled to be heard could now tell a story that touches your heart? 💙🎙️

Meet Aisha Mohammed. She has something beautiful to tell you, and this time, she tells it in poetry. 💃🏽

🎬 Don’t scroll past this. Watch Aisha’s story to the end. Her journey is proof that multidisciplinary cleft care can change lives.

Listen. Feel her journey. Share her voice.
Cleft is treatable, and every child deserves the chance to smile, speak, and thrive.💙
@smiletrain @smiletrainafrica @luthofficialinfo

#LUTH #SmileTrain #cleftstrong #Smile #Love

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I’m excited to be speaking at Virtual Cleft Con 2026 on October 17! This free, one-day virtual event brings together the global cleft community to share stories, experiences, resources, and support.

Join me and others from around the world for a day of connection, learning, and community! Whether you’re personally affected by cleft, a parent or caregiver, a healthcare professional, or simply interested in learning more, there’s something for everyone.

Register for free: https://www.airmeet.com/e/e9c2f8c0-a4de-11f1-8ea1-31fd900afede?utm_source=Team

#CleftCon2026 #VirtualCleftCon #SmileTrain#cleftconfidence

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In 2019, @smiletrain @smiletrainafrica through Lagos University Teaching Hospital Idi-Araba @luthofficialinfo @luthsmiletrain gave me an opportunity that opened a new and meaningful path in my career. I was privileged to be one of the first two people trained in Nigeria to perform nasoendoscopy for cleft palate speech assessment. Seven years later, that opportunity continues to shape my clinical practice, research and passion for comprehensive cleft care.

At Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, nasoendoscopy has contributed to our cleft speech assessments, clinical reports and research. It also plays a valuable role in assessing velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD), guiding treatment decisions and evaluating outcomes following VPD surgery, till date, about 100 people have benefitted from this assessment for FREE!

This reflects the impact of the Smile Train–LUTH partnership @luthsmiletrain, investing in local expertise, advancing research and strengthening multidisciplinary cleft care that goes beyond surgery.

I remain grateful to Smile Train for opening this door and to Lagos University Teaching Hospital Idi-Araba (LUTH) for providing the platform to put this skill into practice, contribute to research and continue learning.
Seven years on, one lesson remains: investing in people is investing in better patient care, strengthening specialist training, research and comprehensive cleft services, because every child deserves the opportunity to speak, thrive and be heard. 💙

#SmileTrain #LUTH #Nasoendoscopy #CleftCare #CleftSpeech ClinicalResearch

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🗣️💙 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CLEFТ AWARENESS SPEAKS YOUR LANGUAGE?
LIVES CAN BE CHANGED! 💃🏽

Throwback to October 23, 2022 (about 4 years ago), when we took cleft awareness to the Hausa-speaking community! 😁🥰

I invited a guest to share this important message in Hausa language because everyone deserves to understand cleft lip and palate in a language they connect with.

🎥 I'm sharing just 3 minutes of that moment with you. The full advocacy videos are also available in Igbo, Yoruba, and Pidgin English on my YouTube channel, Cleft Care with Nifemi Ayelomi.

👉🏽 Head over to YouTube to watch the full video, and don't forget to like, share, and spread the word!

One message. Diverse languages.
One mission: to create awareness and change lives! 💙🌍

#CleftAwareness #CleftAdvocacy #CleftCareWithNifemiAyelomi #EveryLanguageMatters #Hausa

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Come with me for a real, raw hospital day — cleft edition.

For those who are new here — hi, I’m Zieana! I was born with a cleft and palate, and that means my journey has had lots of hospital visits, surgeries, and appointments. Some days are easy, some days are big and scary, but every single one is a step forward in my story.

Today I wanted to show you what a hospital some what looks like for a cleft kiddo — the waiting rooms, the kind nurses, the check-ups, the deep breaths. I know it can feel lonely and overwhelming, especially for other kids and parents watching this who are on their own cleft journey. If that’s you — I see you. You are so strong. You are not alone. 🤍

I make these videos to raise awareness, to show support to all my fellow cleft warriors, cleft families, and to everyone who has ever had to be a little braver than other kids. Your scars tell a story of strength. Your difference is your superpower. ✨

Thank you to my amazing supporters, my runway family, and everyone who sends me love on these hospital days — your messages mean everything to me.

If you’re going to the hospital soon — you’ve got this. Bring your favourite cuddly toy, take deep breaths, and remember how far you’ve already come. 💪💖

Keep shining, cleft cuties — we are in this together. Love Zieana ✨#cleft #support #follow #fyp #myjourney @cleftpalsvictoria @radiancerunway

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All those things that people say... You will find that smile again. 💫

I was born with a cleft lip and palate. I was told I would be different, that I would struggle to smile, to speak, to be confident.

But this is my fight song. 🩷

This smile you see today? It took surgeries, tears, years of speech therapy, bullying, and learning to love the face that makes me ME.

If you’re watching this and you were born with a cleft, or your baby was — please just listen to what I say. You own your life song. Turn your light back on.

Your scar is not your flaw, it’s your superpower. Your smile is beautiful, exactly as it is.

So much love to all my cleft cuties and cleft families out there. You are never alone 🤍 #cleftawareness #follow #myjourney #support #fyp

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Happy World Smile Day to All!! Tag a friend to make them smile 😊

#worldsmileday #shareasmile #cleftstrong

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People having been asking why I swapped my Chef coat with Scrubs.
The assumption is always burnout. It wasn’t.

I was born with a cleft lip and palate—1 in 700 worldwide. I grew up navigating a healthcare system that too often leaves craniofacial patients fighting for basic care.

I didn’t step away because I stopped loving the industry.
It is because I found a new calling.

Nursing is my first step toward advocacy and healthcare law. I’m learning the system from the inside so I can help rebuild it for the next generation.

On the hardest days, my WHY keeps me grounded.

Deeply grateful for everyone supporting me on this new path. Let’s keep pushing for craniofacial rights and awareness. 🫶🏽💙

PS. I will never stop being a Chef. I’ll be hosting dinner parties and giving IV Hydrations after 😉

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Anticipate!
Prepare!
Participate!

Pan -African Association of Cleft Lip and Palate (PAACLIP) Abuja 2026!

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There’s a part of surgery you don’t always see.
The theatre.
The procedure.
The moment the surgery is completed.
But then comes the ward, where the real work of recovery begins.

The past weekend at Lagos University Teaching Hospital Idi-Araba, @luthofficialinfo @luthsmiletrain , I witnessed once again how much care, attention and teamwork go into those first hours after cleft repair.
16 patients. Long hours. Multiple disciplines. One shared goal; and that is safe recovery and the best possible outcome for every child, sponsored by @smiletrain @smiletrainafrica
And I’m grateful to be part of the nursing team that gets to walk with these patients through that next phase 💙

Cleft care is a journey, and every part of the journey matters.
#CleftCare #CleftLipAndPalate #SmileTrain #NursingCare #LUTH

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