Last Tuesday we had the pleasure of attending The Smiley Faces Foundation’s premiere event at the Red Bull Space in Soho.

The event was a photography exhibit showcasing photos of children born with cleft lip and palate who are followed by NYU’s cleft team at the Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. Twenty children, Emily included, were featured in this exhibit by photographers that included famous names such as Peter Lindburgh and Nigel Barker. Emily’s photo was taken by Phillip Graybill, an extremely talented young photographer who literally took the most beautiful photo of my child I’ve ever seen.

You see? (Photo by Phillip Graybill)

So maybe you found Emily’s site because you’re searching for answers about what it means to have a child with a cleft lip. Maybe you want to see some before/after pictures. Maybe you’re trying to figure out what to expect (if you’re pregnant) when the baby is born. Maybe you just want to see for yourself that your child can survive and thrive even though he or she isn’t perfect.

Seven years ago I was you. I was scared and I couldn’t imagine how Emily was going to change my life. Would things ever go back to normal?

Then I found my daughter’s cleft team at NYU’s Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and everything changed. I was still sad for my baby, and scared about what to expect, but suddenly I wasn’t alone.

And neither are you.

There’s a whole community of parents and children out there who are going through or have gone through the same things you’re going through.

The Smiley Faces Foundation happened because one parent, Adam Bell, wanted to make a difference and he happened to be in an industry that gets a lot of press attention.

This blog happened because I wanted a place to chronicle Emily’s journey towards wholeness. But it became a way for me to connect with so many other families out there. It was my lifeline when things got really hard – and I expect it will be again when the time comes for Emily’s next surgery.

There are a lot of us out here, blogging into the void and hoping someone finds us. Grab a cup of tea, sit back, and read all about Rachel or Reid or Jaron or Kaden or Adalyn or…so many more.

You see? You’re not alone. I know you’re scared, but I can tell you that there’s a large extended network of families out here that are ready to talk you through this and show you that everything will be alright. I promise. Beauty isn’t one thing and isn’t everything, but sometimes it takes us by surprise.

Thanks to Dr. Cutting, Dr. Grayson, Shelley, Margie, Dr. Carter and the entire team at NYU who helped make Emily beautiful, and thanks to Phillip, for enabling the rest of the world see what we see. Our little mermaid.

(photo by Phillip Graybill)

(photo by Phillip Graybill)

Thanks, also, to Adam Bell – for making this happen and for creating The Smiley Faces Foundation.