My name is Brian. I am 55 years old and was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. I had a rough childhood; besides having a cleft, and being hearing impaired, I grew up in an abusive, alcoholic family environment. During the day, I got mocked at school and then got a lot of abuse when I got home. In high school, despite doing above average on most testing, the powers that be at my high school, decided that I would be better suited in life as an auto mechanic and off to vo-tech I was sent. I never let that stop me. What kept me going was a belief that I could be a success and that one day I would be. I never stopped believing that. After I got out of high school, I put myself thru college and even worked for a C.P.A. firm for a few years. About 15 years ago, in addition to my day job, I decided to get my Emergency Medical Technician certification. Being an EMT is one of the most rewarding things that I have done in my life. Today I work in the pharmaceutical industry where I install and manage quality and regulatory software.

Dating was an issue for me; as soon as people saw me or found out online that I have a cleft, it was the end of it. So one day I went online and did a search for the term cleft, figuring that someone with a cleft might be more understanding. I found a lady who also has a cleft. We were engaged 5 months later and have been married for almost 12 years now. We are the average suburban couple, with a nice house on a nice street. We both work 40 + hours a week and are about as average as you can get and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Its not easy having a cleft, but you will succeed in life. Believe in yourself. When I was getting mocked in school, I always said to myself that I would be a success in life. I kept repeating it. That would be my way of getting back at to those people who put me down.