My Story

My Name is Patricia Simon and I was born with a cleft lip and palate.

My first surgery was at 6 months of age. I had speech therapy when I was a child. I had my second surgery when I was 13-14 years of age. 

I recently had two more surgeries as a result of getting a dental abscess in my two front teeth. Due to a dentist inexperienced with cleft lip and palate, I continued to have problems with my teeth and had to have bone taken from my hip to build my palate. 

For the last two years, I have been without my two front teeth as I wait for the bone to grow in my palate. The next step is to begin the process of getting dental implants for my two front teeth.

I am the youngest of five children and my brothers and sisters have always been very supportive and loving towards me. I have also been blessed with having wonderful friends. 

I am a Registered Nurse and have taken care of babies born with cleft lip and palate. I have also provided support to the families.

My family has supported Smile Train throughout the years. When my mother died she asked that in lieu of flowers that donations be sent to the Smile Train. I have raised thousands of dollars by asking my family, friends and co-workers to support the Smile Train. In December 2015, I went to the Smile Train headquarters in New York to see how I could help Smile Train make more smiles possible for children.

I know what the journey is like. No individual can provide any greater comfort or insight than someone who has had to face the same type of problem. I would like to make sure that every patient who has been through this experience comes through it with a positive and optimistic outlook toward life. There are others out their walking a similar journey and I hope to be an encouragement to others. I hope to offer support, information, and an opportunity to network with others affected by cleft lip and palate and other craniofacial deformities.  I hope others will benefit when I share my experiences and my knowledge; The highs and lows. I hope to help others help navigate through difficult social situations.

I am trying my hand at writing a children's book on cleft lip and palate. The story will be about Simon, a bird born with a separation in his beak. It will be a story of love, acceptance and kindness. It will speak to the importance that a smile has on others. Smiling is so important for the soul!

I am dedicated to help those affected by cleft lip and palate.  We now have a website: http://www.smilewithsimon.com/

I hope this will serve as a venue for camaraderie and a formula for hope and support. 

What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made in the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.                                                                ____Nelson Mandela