Cleft & Becoming

12/08/2026

10/08/2026

Last night, whilst I was working, I was out walking when a car drove past with a group of people inside.

They shouted out of the window about how ugly I was.

And I’m not going to pretend it didn’t affect me.

It did.

For a moment, it took me straight back to being that girl who knew she looked different.
The girl who grew up with a cleft.
The surgeries. The scars. The staring. The comments.
The years spent learning to accept the face looking back at me.

But then I remembered something.

I’ve already fought far harder battles than the opinions of strangers in a passing car.

They saw my face for a few seconds.

They didn’t see the journey behind it.

They don’t know how many times I’ve had to rebuild my confidence, or how much work it has taken to finally start accepting the things I once desperately wanted to change.

And actually, experiences like last night are part of the reason I became an author.

📚 I wrote about my cleft journey.
📚 I wrote about mental health.
📚 I put the things I’ve struggled with into words because I know I’m not the only person who has ever felt different, judged or not good enough.

My books aren’t written from a textbook.

They’re written from a life I’ve actually lived.

So yes, what happened last night hurt.

But it won’t make me hide.

If anything, it reminds me why I need to keep talking about this.

Because being different was never the problem.

The way some people choose to treat those who are different is. ❤️

📚 My books are available now.
If my story helps even one person feel less alone, then every time I’ve chosen to share it has been worth it.



• The Smile That Changed the World -

https://amzn.eu/d/09Kzo2mI

• Parenting A Cleft Warrior -
https://amzn.eu/d/07GfrJsl

• Navigating the Journey Through Mental Health -
https://amzn.eu/d/03BeGr5h

Navigating Through The Journey Of Mental Health

08/07/2026

💙 Why did I write my books?

Because I know what it’s like to search for answers, reassurance and hope.

Living with a cleft has shaped so much of my life, and I wanted to create books that help others feel understood whether you’re living with a cleft yourself or supporting someone who is.

Every message I receive, every share, and every reader reminds me why I started.

If my books help just one person feel less alone, then they’ve done exactly what I hoped they would.

Have you read one of my books yet? I’d love to hear your thoughts or answer any questions you have. 💙

• The Smile That Changed the World -

https://amzn.eu/d/09Kzo2mI

• Parenting A Cleft Warrior -
https://amzn.eu/d/07GfrJsl

• Navigating the Journey Through Mental Health -
https://amzn.eu/d/03BeGr5h

Navigating Through The Journey Of Mental Health

10/06/2026

There are some days when I don’t think about my cleft at all.

And then there are days when I catch my reflection, see my scars, notice my speech, or struggle with the lasting effects of surgeries, and I’m reminded that having a cleft isn’t something that ended in childhood.

People often see the repaired smile and assume the journey is over.

What they don’t see are the appointments, the insecurities, the challenges with eating, breathing, hearing, dental issues, or the emotional impact that can stay with us into adulthood.

Being born with a cleft has shaped who I am in many ways. Some difficult. Some incredibly positive.

My scars tell a story of strength, resilience, and survival.

And while I wouldn’t wish some of the struggles on anyone, I’m learning that I don’t need to hide the parts of me that make me different.

To anyone else living with a cleft: your story matters, your feelings are valid, and you are so much more than your scar. 💚

08/06/2026

💙 CLEFT & BECOMING 💙

There are photos of me smiling.

There are also photos where I wasn’t.

Not because I wasn’t happy…
But because I was worried about how my smile would look.

Growing up with a cleft can make you incredibly aware of your face. The angles. The scars. The things other people may never even notice.

For years, I tried to hide parts of myself.

Now, I understand something I wish I’d known sooner:

✨ My scars tell a story of strength.
✨ My smile doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.
✨ I don’t need to hide to be accepted.

If you’ve ever avoided a photo, covered your mouth when you laughed, or felt self-conscious about your cleft, you’re not alone.

And you never were. 💙

💙✨

04/06/2026

🤍 The moment I realised my cleft would always be part of my story…

For years, I thought there would come a day when my cleft wouldn’t affect me anymore.

A day when the appointments would stop.
A day when I’d stop noticing my scars.
A day when I’d stop wondering if people were looking.

But what I’ve learned is that acceptance didn’t come from pretending my cleft wasn’t part of me.

It came from realising that it helped shape the person I am.

The empathy I have.
The resilience I’ve built.
The determination to keep going, even when things have been difficult.

Would I have chosen this journey? No.

But I’m proud of the person it’s helped me become.

🤍

If you’re struggling with your cleft journey today, whether you’re a child, parent, teenager, or adult, please know you’re not alone.

18/05/2026

One comment can stay with someone for years.

That’s the reality for many people born with a cleft.

People often forget how much words, staring, bullying, or feeling different can affect confidence growing up.

Be kind. Always 🤍

11/05/2026

Not every cleft journey looks the same 🤍

Some people are loud and confident.
Some people avoid photos.
Some people tell everyone their story.
Some people never talk about it at all.

And all of those journeys are valid ✨

08/05/2026

“You’ve got courage in your cheeks and fire in your name.” 🤍

One of my favourite lines from The Smile That Changed the World because children born with cleft lip and palate truly are some of the bravest little humans.

This book was written to help children feel seen, understood, proud of who they are, and reminded that different smiles are still beautiful smiles.

It’s also for parents navigating appointments, surgeries, emotions, worries, and all the moments in between.

No child should grow up feeling ashamed of their scar, their speech, or their difference.

Our stories matter. Our smiles matter. 🤍

📚 The Smile That Changed the World available on Amazon.

05/05/2026

Not every hard moment with a cleft is about surgery or appointments.

Sometimes it’s the quiet things…

The feeding struggles
The worry about weight
The “are they okay?” thoughts that don’t switch off

If you’re in that place right now you’re not doing anything wrong.

Some parts of this journey are just harder, and it doesn’t mean you’re failing.

You’re learning, adapting, and doing your best in something that isn’t always straightforward.

And that matters more than you realise 🤍