WIDE SMILES - Cleft Lip and Palate Resource - Since 1991 - families and individuals who deal with the issues of Cleft lip and palate or other craniofacial issues

This website and other internet activities are maintained on a volunteer basis. Your financial support will help keep online and offline activities available for others. Thank you.

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Brothers, Jacob and Joey, both shown at age 2. Jacob was born with a unilateral cleft lip and palate, and Joey was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. Both have had lip and palate repair.

PLEASE NOTE: Information provided is not to be construed as medical advice, it is made available to you for informational purposes only. Check with your personal physician before embarking on any change in routine or in making decisions regarding your healthcare or that of your family.

Published picture story books

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One child in 700 is born with a cleft. It is the fourth most common birth defect, and the first most common facial birth defect. And yet so many parents feel so alone.

WIDE SMILES was formed to ensure that parents of cleft-affected children do not have to feel alone. We offer support, inspiration, information and networking for families everywhere who may be dealing with the challenges associated with clefting.

At WIDE SMILES we believe that, while it may not have been wonderful that our children were born with cleft, it is nonetheless true that our children who were born with cleft are wonderful. Together we share the struggle, the pain, the joy and the triumph of watching our children grow. Their challenges may be many, but we can face them together, learn from each other and help our children to recognize their beauty within.

Contact Information

Postal Address

Wide Smiles
P.O. Box 5153
Stockton, CA 95205-0153

Phone: 209-942-2812

Electronic Mail:

Send questions or comments about this site to: josmiles@aol.com

Photo Gallery

A picture is worth a thousand words. This area is priceless if you are traveling the same road. The Wide Smiles Photo Gallery features over 100 cleft-affected children and adults ... and the people who love them. Come and see a photo journey of their lives.

Network With Others:

Who Has a Cleft?

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Join the free Email discussion group. Get support from other families who've traveled the same road.

View our Cleft Talk Quilt

Check out Real Time Chats in the Wide Smiles Conference Room

Outreach: Reaching out to a new family? Click here for Supportive documents.

KIDZ Club area is for kids, created by kids born with clefts. Stop by and have fun!

Journey: For Adults Born with Clefts

The People Side: Who Has A Cleft, Feelings on Birth, Surgery & More

Pacific Cleft Prevention Program

Fill our their survey here

NEW! Lippy the Lion - A goodwill ambassador for cleft lip and palate, all around the world.

Lippy is a very special lion. He was born with a cleft lip. Now that his lip is all stitched together, Lippy has decided to travel the world, visiting girls and boys who understand what it means to be born with a cleft lip and palate.

Watch his page and see all the adventures Lippy has while he visits his friends all over the world. Add your name to Lippy's itinerary and someday, before you know it, Lippy will come visit YOU, too!

Medical Resources

Clefts & Beyond: Related Syndromes

Support section: Online & offline support for various craniofacial conditions

Information concerning some Rare Syndromes & related conditions

Looking For A Doctor? Try Here:
Wide Smiles Guide to Doctors and Medical Professionals

Question and Answer Sessions with Plastic Surgeons - View the logs of these informative sessions!

More Resources - Not all Cleft Related

Info on Military Insurance

EIP: Early Intervention Programs

Feeding Bottles & Nipples

Helpful Products for Parents & Kids

Resource Mall: Books, & More

Adoption Information

Kid's Literature Section - Includes Thumper, How Different is Anthony?, Anthony visits his Cleft Palate Team and MORE!

FaceUP! Educating the Media about Cleft

Jacob's Report on Cleft Lip and Palate!

Marti Anderson's Fun and Useful Sites for Families offers a ton of links to websites on various subject areas

* FRIENDS OF WIDE SMILES *

Our heartfelt thanks to our Wide Smiles Volunteers

BE OUR SPONSOR!

Joanne Green is Founding Director of Wide Smiles. Winner of 1997 Parent-Patient Leadership Award

Yahoo Medical Site of Week,
April 15, 1996

Sept 3, 1996

Sept 18, 1996

Do you have a homepage? A webring links together homepages of a similar topic. This webring is open to any individual or family who is dealing with cleft lip and/or palate and/or other craniofacial anomalies.

To sign up for the ring, please click here .
You will be emailed the code to put on your page
If you have any questions about joining the ring, please email Joanne Green .