A Bandaid for the Heart: Motherhood, Cleft, and the Power of Storytelling with Franleska Garcia
About this episode
Laura Arroyo interviews Franleska Garcia about her experiences as a cleft mom and the power of storytelling in navigating the cleft journey.
In this episode of Our Forever Smiles, Laura sits down with Franleska Garcia, cleft mom to a three-year-old boy born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, author, and creator of La Sonrisa de Fer. Franleska shares her experience receiving a prenatal diagnosis, navigating NAM therapy and multiple surgeries, and processing the grief that often accompanies a cleft journey. She reflects on how storytelling became both a healing tool and a form of advocacy, especially for families seeking bilingual and culturally inclusive cleft resources. This conversation offers reassurance, validation, and hope for parents walking a similar path. Links: Buy Us a Coffee FB Support Group Sonrisa de Fer
People in this episode
Host: Laura Arroyo
Guest: Franleska Garcia
Topics covered
- motherhood
- cleft lip and palate
- storytelling
- advocacy
- bilingual resources
- parenting support
Keywords
- cleft lip
- cleft palate
- motherhood
- storytelling
- parenting
- advocacy
- bilingual resources
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: La Sonrisa de Fer
More episodes of Our Forever Smiles with Laura Arroyo
- When You Know Something Isn't Right: A Mother's Journey Through Cleft Care | Kailey Kuck
- Born with a Cleft Palate: Learning to Speak Up and Thrive | Delaney Yard
- Finding Healing Through Art: Amy Hofland on Cleft, Compassion, and Community
- The 100 Cleft Portrait Tour: Building Community Through Storytelling
- From Cleft Provider to Cleft Mom: Dr. Jordan Virden's Story
- Why Are Babies Born with Clefts? Genetic Counselor, Robin Imagire Answers
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