Before Henry was adopted, his mom, Amanda, was preparing her heart and home for a child with a cleft. She first heard about the Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic on the radio while researching what life and care might look like for a child with complex craniofacial needs. As she explored the Clinic’s website and learned about the comprehensive services available close to home, she felt a growing sense of hope and reassurance. Amanda scheduled a pre-adoption appointment with the Clinic so she could better understand the journey ahead and be prepared to care for her son
from the moment he arrived home.
That visit gave her confidence. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the unknowns, Amanda knew there would be an experienced team ready to walk beside her family every step of the way.
Henry was born in China with a bilateral cleft lip (on both sides) and palate, along with a rare Tessier 3 cleft — a significant facial difference affecting his lip, nose, cheek, and eye area. He also has microphthalmia, which left him blind in one eye. His medical challenges were extensive, but so was his courage.
While in China retrieving Henry, Amanda quickly realized how much difficulty he had with feeding. He had never transitioned to solid foods and relied on bottles for nutrition despite being 15 months old. Amanda walked over a mile in the rain to a crowded shopping mall to find bottles that would help her son eat more comfortably.
At Henry’s very first Clinic appointment in Lancaster, everything began to change. The team immediately provided a specialized feeding bottle along with guidance and encouragement that helped Henry begin eating more successfully. Soon afterward, he was reintroduced to solid foods. What may seem like a simple milestone to many families was truly life-changing for Henry and his family.
Since coming to the Clinic, Henry has received comprehensive care including palate surgery, nose surgery, bone grafting, orthodontics, speech therapy, hearing care, ear tubes, pediatric dentistry, and ongoing support from an entire team of specialists who understand children like him.
“It’s great having a dentist who’s used to taking care of kids with a cleft palate because he has a lot of extra dental needs that most kids don’t have,” Amanda shares. “We really appreciate the whole team. Everyone is super nice and friendly.”
One of Henry’s favorite parts of visiting the Clinic is speech therapy. In fact, he becomes disappointed if an appointment has to be rescheduled because he loves seeing Camryn, his speech language pathologist, so much. The Clinic team carefully explains every procedure to him so he feels safe, informed, and empowered along the way. 
Today, Henry is a joyful and energetic eight-year-old who loves animals, riding his bike, reading, Minecraft, and learning about steamships with his Pop Pop. He dreams of becoming a nurse one day because he loves helping people. Amanda recently shared a moment that captures his tender heart perfectly: when she was sick, Henry brought her a glass of ice water and one of his stuffed animals to comfort her.
“The Clinic is helpful to children and their families,” Amanda says. “Any gift will help them in the mission and make life easier for families who already have a lot to deal with, with ongoing care for their children.”
