“Your child has a slight cleft” the doctor said to me with a look of comfort and assurance. In a very frightened voice I asked, “What’s a cleft? Is he going to be ok?” Once the doctor put Connor on my chest my eyes honed in on this adorably cute, perfectly round and deep dimple on Connor’s left cheek. From that point forward the focus shifted from the adorably cute dimple to the cleft lip, cleft palate, cleft esophogus, and cleft gumline.
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Connor, our family, and the millions of other families are so lucky to have an organization to heal our children from birth through adolescent life. We chose Shriners Hospital for Children Chicago over the two most prestigious children’s hospitals in the Midwest because the cleft clinic and Mary O’Gara. The clinic in Chicago is a place that empowers my family. You walk into a hospital that is filled with child sized chairs and ottomans, kids artwork, friendly faces. You will even find and indoor basketball court and soccer net. Pianos, pin ball machines, video games, and TVs with DVDs are lined up around the edge of the court. The outside playground is comparable to something you would see on TV. Simply amazing! |
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Shriners are inclusive to all, accepting of everyone, and together, they make a unique fraternity that accepts and heals any child who needs it regardless of race, ethnicity, political, or financial circumstances. |
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Shriners Hospitals for Children
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Going to Shriners every six months is a reminder to all of us about how to be selfless, how to turn challenges into opportunities, and how to love unconditionally. There is NO other organization that I have ever been a part of that offers those three lessons in a genuine, natural, child and family centered environment in addition to providing excellent medical treatment. 
