When Anya Was Born, Her Parents Learned the Importance of Cleft Care

Patrick and his wife, Rachael, were confused when their ultrasound revealed that their third child, Anya, would be born with a cleft. Neither parent had a family history of clefts. They had never even thought that something like this could happen. “It was a huge shock to us”, Patrick said.

Coming to terms with how a cleft would affect Anya’s life was difficult without prior knowledge of the condition. They learned that having a cleft could affect not only Anya’s speech and hearing, but also, as a baby, her ability to feed and even breathe properly. Thankfully, the family received help from the National Health Service (NHS) and Evelina Hospital. Together, they provide excellent care to babies with clefts and their families. The couple relaxed, knowing that their daughter was in such capable hands.

News of Smile Train came along while the family prepared for Anya’s birth. Their newfound connection with the cleft community made getting involved a no-brainer. They knew the importance of cleft care and that most people around the world don’t have something like the NHS to help them. But Smile Train was there for those people, so Patrick and Rachael wanted to be there for them, too. But how would they do it? A lightbulb went off in Patrick’s head. He would climb Mount Everest — kind of.

The Everesting Challenge calls for participants to run 8,850m – the full distance of ascending and descending Mount Everest – by running up and down a hill. He set a deadline: his daughter’s birth. With a goal and a timeframe, Patrick got to work.

Patrick got up and hit the ground running every day for six weeks, sometimes twice a day! In the beginning, he wasn’t sure how he was going to finish the challenge. The August sun was merciless as he completed his daily climbs, but he persisted. With every step, Patrick remembered that he was doing this for children just like Anya. The idea of helping families like his was a powerful motivator. By the end, Patrick felt like a champion. He raised £1,500 for Smile Train!

And Patrick met his deadline. A few weeks after the challenge wrapped up, Anya was born.

Even with all the preparation Patrick and Rachael did, the first year of Anya’s life was something else entirely. Initially, her cleft made feeding a struggle.. Little Anya also got frequent ear infections. Treatment did wonders for her, but it was intense. Before she turned one, she underwent three different surgeries requiring general anaesthetic. Her parents knew she was in good hands, but every surgery was another emotional rollercoaster. It was hard to keep their anxiety at bay.

Thankfully, they had support all around. From the hospital staff to friends and family to strangers,

Anya’s birth has brought the family into the UK cleft community. Here, they met people who had been through every experience a cleft could offer and were more than willing to share and help others through their own journeys. Reaching out is something that Patrick can’t recommend enough. “It helped so much to understand the process of cleft treatment, and sharing experiences made us feel that we were not alone”, he said.

Now, Rachael uses her job as a teacher to raise awareness for clefts by sharing Anya’s story and promoting Smile Train. Patrick hasn’t stopped fundraising, and his company, DHA Planning, has named Smile Train their Charity of the Year. They have recently undertaken the Medway Medley, a gruelling 16½ hour, 70+ mile, walking, canoeing, and cycling challenge to raise money for Smile Train.

Anya still has a long way to go along her cleft journey, but her family is ready. They’re closer than ever and so appreciative. “We wouldn’t change Anya for the world.”