Soft laughter and timid smiles filled the Cooley University Life Center at UTHealth Houston, where about a dozen children trickled in for a yearly event – the WONDERKids Workshop, a one-day camp for children with cleft or craniofacial differences.
Among the kids was Jacob Rodriguez, an outgoing, enthusiastic preteen.
“I heard about this opportunity and was like, wait, I can find people like me? That will be fun, and I can make new friends,” he said.
Kids with cleft lip and palate
The 11-year-old was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. It’s a condition that can impact a child’s speech and change the appearance of their face, even after surgery.
“Cleft and craniofacial differences impact about one in 700 births,” explained Stephanie Johnson, MA, a speech-language pathologist with UT Physicians and the team coordinator for the Texas Cleft-Craniofacial Team.
This means kids like Jacob could spend most of their young lives without ever meeting another child like them.
“I get kids who come into the clinic and say nobody else at my school looks like me,” said Johnson.
“This condition is not something you can hide. It’s present on your face, and it can feel isolating if you don’t know anyone else like you,” said Kim Luu, MA, a speech-language pathologist with the Texas Cleft-Craniofacial Team.
That’s where the WONDERKids Workshop comes in.
“What’s cool about bringing all these kids together is they get an experience with other kids who have the same differences that they have, who’ve had the same surgeries,” said Johnson.
WONDERKids day camp
The day-long camp kicked off with a virtual presentation by guest speaker Dina Zuckerberg from the myFace organization. She shared a message of hope for kids with cleft and craniofacial differences.
“When I was younger, I was teased. Other kids stared at me and said mean things,” said Zuckerberg. “As I got older, these experiences happened less and impacted me less.”
The day was filled with games and group activities, a kindness pledge, and a special movie.
For this one day, children who may not always feel accepted have a safe place to relax, be themselves, find support, and make connections.
In his entire life, Rodriguez said he had never met another kid who looked like him, and within the first 10 minutes, he was sitting next to another boy, also named Jacob, swapping stories.
During the group icebreaker, when asked to describe themselves with one word, Jacob Rodriguez proudly chimed up, “I’m joyful Jacob!”
Texas Cleft-Craniofacial Team
With a multidisciplinary approach, the Texas Cleft-Craniofacial Team sees patients from newborn through adolescence at UT Physicians.
“We tailor their treatment based on what they need individually,” said Johnson.
The team includes specialists in pediatric dentistry at the UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry, pediatric surgery, pediatric neurosurgery, plastic surgery, and speech-language pathology.
Utilizing the latest advancements in surgical care, the team specializes in compassionate, personalized, and comprehensive treatment plans. They are guided by standards set by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA).
