Dante’s Story: Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness Month

When Michelle and David welcomed their son Dante into the world in early 2022, they knew he would be extraordinary. Even in the womb, he was bursting with energy “doing cartwheels,” as Michelle affectionately puts it. Two days after birth, their world shifted as Dante was diagnosed with a cleft palate, a condition that had not been detected earlier. It is characterized by an opening or split in the roof of the mouth (palate) that occurs when the tissues do not fully join during fetal development. Cleft palate can lead to difficulties with feeding, speech and ear infections.  

“It was a shock,” David recalls. “We didn’t know what that would mean for his future.” 

As older parents, navigating new parenthood during a pandemic, the diagnosis brought with it fear, uncertainty and a lot of questions. They were determined to face it together. Dante had the love of his big half-sister, Heaven (27), by his side for the first three years of his life, plus the support of extended family across Ontario. This was an incredibly challenging time and with services backed up due to the pandemic, Dante did not have his palate repaired until he was 16 months old.  

Dante’s energy and curiosity were obvious from the start. He loved Sesame Street, playing with Lego and Play-Doh and charmed everyone he met. Despite the challenges he faced, he has been a vibrant, joyful and social child, more outgoing than his parents ever expected. 

However, by 22 months, Dante was speaking fewer than 20 words. His parents, concerned about his speech development, had already engaged private speech therapy, but still weren’t seeing the progress they hoped for. In January 2024, Michelle and David were introduced to Jerome, a Speech-Language Pathologist at Grandview Kids. “Meeting Jerome was a game-changer,” David shares. “He saw what Dante needed, and suddenly, so did we.” 

Then came a major realization: Dante wasn’t hearing properly. His ear tubes had fallen out and needed to be reinserted. Once they were, everything changed. By March 2024, with improved hearing and expert speech support from Grandview Kids, Dante’s vocabulary skyrocketed. Other challenges remained as children with cleft palates often substitute certain consonants, a habit known as “backing”—saying “kuh” instead of “buh” or “puh.” Now, Jerome and the family are helping Dante re-learn how to use his voice effectively and clearly. Jerome made therapy approachable and fun. Dante now looks forward to sessions, excitedly pointing out the Grandview Kids’ Ajax headquarters, The Jerry Coughlan Building, on walks, exclaiming, “That’s where we see Jerome!” 

“Not every session is perfect,” David laughs. “Some days he’s not in the mood. But other days he loves it. That’s life with a toddler.” Michelle and David didn’t expect to qualify for Grandview Kids’ support since Dante’s case was moderate. However, to their surprise, they were accepted and found the local support close to home invaluable. “We felt lucky. Grateful. Privileged, even,” David says. “Not everyone gets access to these services. And when you do, it makes all the difference.” 

Their experience highlights why early intervention is critical. Speech therapy isn’t a four-week process; it’s a journey. And the earlier that journey begins, the more impactful it can be. 

“It broke my heart not hearing ‘Dada’ until he was nearly two,” David shares. “But now, we hear him all the time. And it’s the sweetest sound.” 

Michelle and David’s advice to other families: 

• Don’t wait. Trust your gut if something feels off. 
• Leverage every resource, make connections: doctors, networks and early childhood centres. 
• Advocate loudly and early for your child and others like them. 
• Push for funding. Write your councillor. Help make support like Grandview Kids’ available to every family. 

“We’re not just helping Dante,” David says. “We’re building a better path for every kid who comes after him.”