That mark on my face that taught me who I am

I am Federica Martinelli, I am 20 years old and I am a university student.

Cleft lip is an important part of my story, an aspect that has been with me since birth and has helped shape the person I am today.

It is a condition that may seem complex or difficult to face; however, for me it has represented not only a challenge, but also a great opportunity for personal growth.

I want to share my experience, so that it may give courage to other families: from the difficulties I encountered, the fears I overcame and the relationship I built with myself.

My parents, from the very first moment, faced this situation with courage, seeking the best care for me and surrounding me with love and support.

The first step in addressing this condition was taken when I was just 6 months old with the first surgical operation. Although I was too young to remember those moments, I know how significant it was for my family. That first operation represented a concrete hope of improving not only my appearance, but also my quality of life.

I learned to live with the scar left by the first operation, but this was not easy since, as time passed and as I grew, this scar began to “pull” the surrounding skin, bringing with it certain aesthetic and functional consequences.

One of these consequences was the accentuation of the deviation of the nasal septum, already partly present because of the cleft lip; this was not only an aesthetic problem, but it also affected my ability to breathe optimally.

Despite this, I did not allow this difficulty to stop me: for 10 years I practised synchronised swimming, a sport that requires a great deal of breath and correct breathing, alternated with long periods of holding one’s breath underwater.

The asymmetry of my nose became even more evident, especially during adolescence, and I do not deny that this caused a sense of inadequacy within me.

In 2021 I had the good fortune to meet Dr Scopelliti and the Smile House Centre in Rome, which gave me the possibility of undergoing a further corrective operation, both to improve my appearance and to resolve the functional problems linked to breathing.

Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, the first date for the operation was postponed to March 2022.

Every stage of this journey was followed by the medical team, who stood by me and supported me even after the operation.

Indeed, I can consider that period a rebirth, thanks to which I improved my breathing, but also my relationship with myself, accepting the scar and considering it a distinctive trait rather than a flaw.

Once the period of check-ups following the operation had concluded, I remained in contact with Smile House ETS, which has always involved me in various initiatives to share my story and to demonstrate the possibility of living a full and satisfying life.

The Foundation, with its constant support, has been not only a medical point of reference, but also a place where I found inspiration, strength and a community of people of different ages who share experiences similar to mine.

Smile House ETS has done a great deal for me, and today I am proud to be able to give something back by helping to spread awareness and support to those who live with cleft lip.