Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo

Laura C Arroyo
  • 4.9 (30)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

Whether you've just learned the difficult news of your baby's cleft lip/palate, you're in the middle of your cleft lip/palate journey, or you're a seasoned pro who knows the many challenges of children who are born with clefts all too well, this podcast is for you! Join your host, Laura C. Arroyo, mother of a daughter born with a cleft palate, in a weekly conversation about everything from feeding and speech therapy to surgeries and genetics. We'll share tips and advice from other moms who have been there and even share a little joy in the process. If you're a cleft mom, or if you know someone who is, please subscribe to the Our Forever Smiles Podcast. We're here to support you on your journey. Want to share your story or sponsor the show? Email us at ourforeversmiles@gmail.com

  1. 1h ago

    The Sound We Found: Supporting Cleft Speech Through Connection and Play | Hélène Somerville and Rhian Hoccom

    In this episode of the Our Forever Smiles Podcast, Laura is joined by highly specialist UK speech and language therapists Hélène Somerville and Rhian Hoccom, co-authors with Lisa Farquhar of The Sound We Found, The Sound We See, and The Sound We Feel. Drawing on decades of experience supporting children with cleft lip and palate, Hélène and Rhian share practical ways families can encourage speech sound development through connection, repetition, play, and everyday routines. From saying "up, up, up" on the stairs to popping bubbles in the bath, playing with sounds during meals, and reading together at bedtime, this conversation shows how small moments can become meaningful opportunities for sound play. Hélène and Rhian explain multisensory input modeling, why face-to-face interaction and repetition matter, and why children don't need to be pressured to copy sounds for these interactions to be valuable. They also discuss hearing considerations for children with cleft palate, the role of speech and language therapists in understanding speech development, and how playful interactions can provide useful information for a child's cleft team. You'll also hear the story behind their children's books, how the resources expanded into Welsh and Spanish, and their work supporting families through the UK's cleft community. Most importantly, Hélène and Rhian remind parents that supporting speech doesn't have to mean adding another stressful task to the day. It can happen through talking, singing, reading, playing, laughing, and simply enjoying time with your child. This episode is for parents, caregivers, and advocates looking for practical, encouraging ways to support communication while keeping connection at the center of the cleft journey. Please note: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational resources and is not a substitute for medical or clinical advice. Families should consult their child's cleft and healthcare teams for individualized guidance. Link:  Author's Site  The Sound we See The Sound we Found The Sound we Feel

    The Sound We Found: Supporting Cleft Speech Through Connection and Play | Hélène Somerville and Rhian Hoccom

  2. 2h ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Enjoy: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    Introducing Vinh Giang: How to Communicate So People Actually Listen to You from On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay Shetty Communication expert Vinh Giang joins Jay to share practical tools from his first book, Before We Forget How to Connect, to help you become a more confident communicator and build deeper, more meaningful connections. Vinh explains how to become a better listener, avoid common communication mistakes, and speak so people actually pay attention. From sounding confident when you're nervous to speaking up in meetings, navigating difficult conversations, and making a great first impression, Vinh shares simple techniques to help you communicate more effectively and connect with people in every area of your life. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty Instagram Teen Accounts: Built-in protections for teens. JAY'S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe here: https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast What We Discuss: 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Before We Forget How To Connect 01:52 The High-Low Buffalo Icebreaker 02:45 Sharing Personal Highs 05:15 Sharing Personal Lows 11:40 Sharing Personal Buffalos 13:40 Escaping Small Talk 16:10 Overcoming Self-Judgment 17:58 Sharing Wins Without Sounding Arrogant 19:50 Communication Beyond The Script 20:40 Gen Z's Communication Struggles 23:20 Last Word, Last Letter Game 27:20 The Four Modalities Of Listening 29:50 The Three Follow-Up Questions Rule 35:50 How Do You Make A Great First Impression? 40:10 Reading the Room, Not Formulas 44:10 Finding Your Unique Voice 49:00 Life As A Book: New Chapters 50:40 Building Executive Presence 53:20 Fix Your Resting Blank Face 58:30 Filming Yourself For Self-Awareness 01:02:20 When Your Mind Goes Blank 01:06:10 The Power Of The Pause 01:09:30 How Can You Sound Confident When You’re Nervous? 01:14:40 From Texting Chemistry to Real-Life Connection 01:18:40 How to Communicate Better During Arguments 01:20:20 Learning to Speak Up In Meetings 01:25:45 How to Join a Conversation Without Feeling Awkward 01:28:20 Leaving A Conversation Gracefully 01:31:4 Embracing Vulnerability Episode Resources: Book | https://vinhgiang.com/before-we-forget-how-to-connect Website | https://vinhgiang.com/ YouTube | https://youtube.com/@askvinh Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/share/1CCPX1ChrP/?mibextid=wwXIfr LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinhgiang Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

    You Might Enjoy: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

  3. Oct 20

    Beyond the First Surgery: Understanding Lifelong Cleft Care | Dr. Christopher Michael Runyan

    What does the cleft care journey look like from a baby's first surgery through adulthood? In this episode of the Our Forever Smiles Podcast, Laura sits down with craniofacial and plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Runyan to discuss cleft lip and palate care across the lifespan. They cover the timing of lip and palate repair, NAM and presurgical options, feeding after surgery, fistulas, VPI, jaw surgery, adult cleft care, and emerging technologies helping improve treatment and outcomes. Dr. Runyan also shares his perspective as both a surgeon and a parent who experienced his own newborn needing major surgery. Whether you're preparing for your baby's first surgery or navigating the later stages of cleft care, this conversation offers helpful insight, encouragement, and a look at what families can expect along the journey.

  4. Oct 13

    Learning to Live With the Unknown: A Cleft Mom's Story | Christine Boddy

    In this heartfelt episode of the Our Forever Smiles Podcast, Laura sits down with Christine Bodie, a mother of six from North Pole, Alaska, to share the story of her youngest son, Corey, who was born with a complete bilateral cleft lip and palate. Christine opens up about the uncertainty of Corey's prenatal diagnosis, his NICU stay, feeding challenges, lip repair, and what it is like traveling hundreds of miles to access specialized cleft care in Anchorage. She also shares how this journey has shaped her as a mother, teaching her patience, faith, and how to find peace in the things she cannot control. For parents facing a new cleft diagnosis, Christine offers a reassuring message: It may feel overwhelming right now, but there is so much joy waiting on the other side of the unknown. Links: Buy Us a Coffee FB Support Group

  5. Oct 6

    Cleft, Heart Surgery & Choosing Joy Through Every Season | Shannon Hennen

    What does it look like to choose joy when motherhood takes you down a road you never expected? In this episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura sits down with Shannon Hennen, a creative maker, storyteller, and mom of three. Shannon shares her journey raising her son Sam, who was born with a cleft and has faced a complex medical journey that includes heart conditions, feeding challenges, and more than a dozen surgeries. Shannon opens up about navigating those early years while becoming a single mom, finding strength through family, faith, therapy, and community, and learning to look for the silver lining even in the hardest seasons. Now, as Sam enters adulthood, Shannon is navigating a new chapter: stepping back, respecting his independence, and allowing him to take greater ownership of a medical journey she spent years helping manage. Through it all, Shannon's story is filled with humor, resilience, gratitude, and a powerful reminder: we may not get to choose every part of the journey, but we can continue finding reasons for joy along the way. Links: Buy Us a Coffee FB Support Group

  6. Sep 29

    21 Years of Cleft Parenting: From Diagnosis to Independence | Alyson Ferguson

    What does the cleft journey look like 21 years later? In this episode of the Our Forever Smiles Podcast, Laura sits down with cleft mom and advocate Alyson Ferguson to reflect on raising her daughter, Madalyna from an unexpected cleft diagnosis and early feeding challenges to surgeries, bullying, advocacy, and ultimately learning to let go. Now 21, Madalyna is beginning to take ownership of her story and make decisions about her cleft journey for herself. Alyson shares what it's like to make that transition as a parent, how their experiences led her to become a founding member of Smile Train's Cleft Community Advisory Council, and the message she wants every new cleft parent to hear: Your baby is going to be okay. A heartfelt conversation about motherhood, advocacy, community, and trusting our children to find their own voice. Links: Buy Us a Coffee FB Support Group

  7. Sep 22

    Emmy's Beautiful Smile: A Black Mother's Cleft Journey | Ebony Waldrum

    In this heartfelt episode of the Our Forever Smiles Podcast, Laura sits down with Ebony Waldrum, wife, mother of two, cleft advocate, and author of Emmy's Beautiful Smile. Ebony shares the deeply personal journey of welcoming her daughter Emercyn, who was born with a unilateral cleft lip and palate. Ebony opens up about receiving Emercyn's diagnosis during her 20-week ultrasound, the fear and self-blame she initially carried, and why she waited to share the diagnosis with extended family. She also discusses an important part of her experience: searching for Black and brown mothers and children in the cleft community and struggling to find families who looked like hers. From IVF and a stressful pregnancy to Emercyn's NICU stay, feeding, taping, surgery, and recovery, Ebony shares the realities behind the milestones. She also talks candidly about her fears for Emercyn as she grows older, including questions from other children, differences in her smile, and helping her daughter develop the confidence to advocate for herself. That need for representation ultimately inspired Ebony to write Emmy's Beautiful Smile, creating the kind of story she once searched for herself. This conversation is about more than cleft care. It's about motherhood, representation, vulnerability, advocacy, and discovering that you don't have to navigate this journey alone. If you're a parent processing a new cleft diagnosis or searching for someone whose experience reflects your own, Ebony's message is simple: this is not the end, and there is a community waiting for you. Our Forever Smiles shares lived experiences from parents and advocates. Nothing discussed in this episode is intended as medical advice. Links: Emmy's Beautiful Smile Book Buy Us a Coffee FB Support Group

  8. Sep 15

    Why Representation Matters: Justin Stewart on Identity, Surgery & Self-Acceptance | Justin Stewart

    What does it mean to truly embrace what makes you different? In this powerful conversation, Laura sits down with Justin Stewart, model, content creator, basketball coach, and Program Officer at myFace to discuss growing up with the rare craniofacial condition frontonasal dysplasia. Justin shares his journey from navigating bullying and multiple surgeries to building confidence, finding community, and using his platform to advocate for greater representation for people with facial differences. Together, they explore the importance of family support, the emotional impact of craniofacial care, making deeply personal decisions about surgery, and why listening to children with facial differences matters more than having all the answers. Justin also reflects on his modeling career with brands like Nike and Vogue, his work in advocacy, and how finding community transformed his life. Whether you're a parent raising a child with a craniofacial difference, someone navigating your own medical journey, or simply looking for an inspiring conversation about resilience, identity, and belonging, this episode is a reminder that our differences are not something to hide—they're part of what makes us who we are. Links:  Buy Us a Coffee FB Support Group

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Whether you've just learned the difficult news of your baby's cleft lip/palate, you're in the middle of your cleft lip/palate journey, or you're a seasoned pro who knows the many challenges of children who are born with clefts all too well, this podcast is for you! Join your host, Laura C. Arroyo, mother of a daughter born with a cleft palate, in a weekly conversation about everything from feeding and speech therapy to surgeries and genetics. We'll share tips and advice from other moms who have been there and even share a little joy in the process. If you're a cleft mom, or if you know someone who is, please subscribe to the Our Forever Smiles Podcast. We're here to support you on your journey. Want to share your story or sponsor the show? Email us at ourforeversmiles@gmail.com

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