An Espanola mother says looks aren’t everything, but when something goes wrong, what most people would consider just cosmetic, can have life-altering consequences.
Parker Donnelly of Espanola, the son of Tim and Vanessa Donnelly, was born with a cleft lip and palate.
Vanessa says her son’s story will be featured in a book, I Wish I had Known Clefts Create Courage by Julie Kwir.
Donnelly say Kwir has sons who were also born with a cleft lip and palate.
She says a cleft lip and palate affects the way the children eat, breathe and speak.
Her son, Parker, who is three years old, started his treatment at nearly four months of age and visits Toronto Sick Kids every year.
Vanessa says he will eventually have a bone graph between the age of five and seven, where medical staff will use a piece of bone from his hip to place in his gum line.
She is proud her son is featured in the book, and a portion of proceeds will go to charity.
The author is doing pre-orders and raising money for the charity #1in700, since one in 700 children are born with the condition.
The charity provides supports to families who have children who need the surgery.
The link to buy the book is http://iwishidknown.yolasite.com/