Sensational Sophia teaches other kids about her Cleft Palate after receiving specialist care from Birmingham Children’s Hospital
An 11-year-old from Albrighton is not letting her cleft palate define her and is now teaching her classmates about the condition to help increase understanding.
Sophia Lane is cared for by the West Midlands Cleft Lip and Palate service, based at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, which is marking its 25th anniversary this year.
The multi-disciplinary team, which also works in partnership with the nearby Queen Elizabeth Hospital providing care for adults, supports patients all the way through their cleft journey.
The groundbreaking service, the first of its kind in the region, has made cleft care more accessible for patients across the West Midlands over the last quarter of a century.
A cleft is a gap or split in the upper lip and/or roof of the mouth (palate). Around one in 700 children in the UK are born with the condition. A cleft happens because different areas of the face don’t join together while a baby is developing in the womb.
There is no known cause and it may affect one side of the lip/palate (unilateral) or both sides (bilateral).
After moving to the area around 18 months ago, sadly Sophia was teased at her new school because of her condition. She spoke with her family, Mum, Shanie and Dad Michael, and decided to do a presentation to teach her fellow pupils about cleft.
She said: “I felt really happy doing my presentation. I talked about my surgeries, my time in hospital and brought my teddy bear that I always have with me when I am an inpatient. After the presentation, the bullying stopped.”
Dr Rebecca Hodgetts, Clinical Psychologist said: “We talk to families when they attend clinic about how they can help their child to grow up seeing their cleft as only one aspect of themselves. We give them lots of skills to help families develop ways to talk about cleft, managing curious questions and responding to unkindness should it occur.”
Sophia explained that it has sometimes been more difficult for her to make new friends because of her condition. This has obviously been upsetting but she now has more confidence; embracing her cleft which she said, “makes me beautiful”.
Her Dad, Michael, believes the surgical team at the Children’s Hospital has helped his daughter build her confidence in taking charge of her own medical care with the help of the rest of her family.
Sophia’s consultant, Mr Ian Sharp, Consultant Cleft and Maxillofacial Surgeon said: “The conversations we had in clinic and throughout the surgical care showed Sophia had a good understanding of her cleft and she asked good questions.
“Delivering high quality care for our patients is what gets us all out of bed in the morning.”
Sophia said: “I used to be quite anxious going to appointments. I got more confident at Birmingham Children’s Hospital because I saw my dad happy talking to the doctors. I thought, if he could do it then I could do it. He is the one who inspired me.”
Michael, who has served in the Royal Air Force for 16 years, said: “It has been difficult balancing being a serviceman and a Dad to a little girl with this sort of condition.
“It has been overwhelming sometimes, but we are grateful to the hospital for all their support.”
Holly Peryer Speech & Language Therapist said: “Approaching our 25th anniversary as a team, it is an honour and a privilege to work with young people like Sophia and her family.”
Sophia continues to receive specialist support and treatment from a variety of specialty clinicians at our Children’s Hospital to support her with her Cleft.