Brian Reads Aloud: Full Circle Cleft Care

“It was like a cold bucket of water pouring over me…”. Rubí described the moment she learned her son Brian would be born with a cleft lip and palate.

As the news doused her, her thoughts darted. Until then, Rubí and her husband Luis were focused on the jubilation of their first pregnancy. Cleft wasn’t a consideration.

When she re-grounded herself, the doctor told Rubí treatment was possible. For surgery, they’d need to visit an annual mission in San Cristóbal. The centre in their small town in Chiapas, Mexico, wasn’t equipped to help.

One month later, Brian was born.

When Rubí and Luis brought him home, the gossip began. The neighbours made hurtful comments to Rubí and rumours abounded. It was distressing, but they didn’t lose sight of care for Brian.

Early on, Brian’s access to care was fragmented. Rubí found bits of help here – or there. He received surgery through a mission but never had consistent treatment.

Time passed, Brian started school, and he began to isolate himself. His teachers struggled to understand him, and he didn’t want to participate in team activities. He was bashful.

What Brian truly needed was the full Circle of Care.

During a dental checkup at a charitable medical centre, it came to light that Brian had difficulty speaking and eating like other children. He had an opening in the roof of his mouth – a fistula – worsening the situation. The team knew who could help, Transforming Cleft’s local partner, Tseinan, about 1.5 hour away.

If Brian’s cleft diagnosis was like a bucket of cold water, the team at Tseinan was the sunshine ready to dry: Ready to move the family forward in their cleft care journey.

Today at 9 years old, Brian received further surgery to address his challenges, and he has participated in speech therapy for over a year. He loves joining group speech camps, where he can see his friends. He loves to read out loud, he speaks up in class, and he is confident.

“At first, it was very difficult. We didn’t know what to do or how to help Brian. Watching him struggle and not being able to communicate very well broke my heart. But since we started with Tseinan, everything changed.”

Rubí and Luis attend every appointment together to support Brian’s progress. Rubí enjoys the parent support sessions: “There are other parents who understand me and I come home calmer. I know that other moms are going through the same thing.”

There is more ahead on Brian’s journey. For now, everyone celebrates his newfound confidence and progress.