Ep. 6: From Patient to Purpose: Kelly Brantley

February 18th, 2026

Hi everyone, my name is Julia Lee, and I'm the President of Youth for Global Smiles.

My name is Mrugakshi Badhri Vishaal, and I'm the Vice President of Youth for Global Smiles. Welcome back to our sixth episode of Cleft Conversations. And today we're joined by Kelly Brantley, who was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate.

To start, could you just introduce yourself and share a little about who you are- your work, your family, and the things that matter the most to you?

My name is Kelly Brantley. I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. I still live here today. I'm a mom to two incredible kids. I have a 14-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son. They're definitely the center of my world. Professionally, I work as a dental practice management consultant. So I help dentists build and grow successful practices. Personally, I was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, which has shaped much of who I am today, both in my career and in my personal life.

As you said, you were born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. When you think back on your cleft journey, what moments stand out most from your childhood?

I think when I look back on my cleft journey, I think a lot about the surgeries first, right? There are a lot of them. Some are successful, and some are not. But that was just a part of my normal growing up. I also think about the endless love and support from my family. And then, unfortunately, there was always the bullying, right? Both existed at the same time. I experienced some deep support from my family, which I'm very grateful for, and then just hardship at school. Those two realities shaped me in very different ways.

How did growing up with a cleft shape the way you saw yourself, especially during school or social settings?

Growing up, I was born in the early to mid-80s. I was really insecure during my younger school years. In social settings, I was very quiet. I didn't want to draw a lot of attention to myself. I really tried to blend in as much as possible. I didn't really have many friends. I stuck close to my family. I feel like when you feel different, you become very aware of it. For a long time, I believed that being invisible, being in the background, was safer than being seen. It really wasn't until I met my best friend when I was 12 years old that I realized that kids could see past my scar. They didn't really care about what I looked like; they cared more about who I was. It really wasn't until then that I came more out of my shell and started feeling more okay about myself and becoming a little more social. But I would say growing up, it was a little hard just feeling that insecurity.

Were there any moments when you felt especially supported or moments when you were unseen or misunderstood?

Yeah, back when I was younger, I felt really supported by my family, and I feel so incredibly fortunate to be able to say that. I know a lot of people who have facial differences, and they don't always have that support from their loved ones. I was incredibly fortunate because my family was so unwavering with their support. My mom did everything she could to make sure I saw the best doctors and got any surgeries I needed, whether reconstructive, maintenance, or cosmetic. She didn't care what she needed to do to get me those doctors; she was going to do it. My grandfather was my best friend growing up before I met my other one. He took me to all of my appointments and was there for all of my surgeries. He would pick me up every day from school, so I didn't have to ride the bus home because that's where a lot of the bullying took place. My family was such a huge support, and they were so integral to my self-confidence. I'll never take that for granted. But at school, I often felt unseen. I wasn't the popular kid. I wasn't chosen first for the teams. I wasn't really asked to dances and stuff like that. Those were some hard years, but I was really grateful and fortunate to be able to go home to a safe place.

As you got older, how did your relationship with your cleft and your appearance change over time?

Over time, at 42 years old now, I've kind of accepted my appearance for what it is. I've had a lot of cosmetic procedures that were successful and some that were not. My relationship with my appearance has evolved over time. At a certain point, I became exhausted with my surgeries. I felt like it was one step forward and two steps back. They would fix something, but then two other things would fall apart. What was going to be the risk? What was going to fall apart? What was most important at that time? People often think about the physical pain, which is a big portion, but I think I've come to accept a lot of my appearance because I'm tired of adjusting how I look. I would get used to my appearance and then have another procedure, and then have to get used to that new face. It was just a constant changing of how I looked, so I got burned out. I accepted myself and said, this is it. We're going to stick with this face. We're not going to do any more cosmetics, and we're going to love ourselves for who we are and move on.

You've built a long career in the medical and dental field. Do you feel that your cleft experience influenced the path that you chose professionally?

Absolutely. I've always been fascinated by medicine. From birth, I've always been in healthcare. It's been such a big part of my life. I've always admired and adored the doctors and nurses who worked on me. I loved my doctors. They always took such great care of me and made me feel better. I always wanted to stay connected to that in some way when I grew up. I didn't want to go through the whole schooling process of becoming a doctor, so I settled for the dental field. Having firsthand experience as a patient in medical and dental gave me a unique perspective, and I honestly feel it makes me really good at what I do.

Do you think there are any misconceptions that people often have about cleft conditions that you wish more people understood?

The biggest misconception is that it's a one-and-done surgery. It's not. It's a lifelong journey. Even after the lip and palate are repaired, there are lifelong physical considerations: dental, speech, structural issues, and emotional layers. I always tell people to be gentle. There's more happening beneath the surface than people may realize.

Looking back now, what is something you wish you had been told your younger self or believed about yourself?

I think if I could tell my teenage self, I would tell her not to stress so much, to stay positive. Having a mindset of positivity is so important in overcoming hurdles. I would tell her that things will work out the way they're supposed to work out. Don’t stress. The boys will like you. You’ll find the friends that are meant to be there. Invest in people who are investing in you. Having a facial difference isn’t going to limit you in anything. Use it as a superpower, not a weakness. I would tell her she’s enough exactly as she is.

What has resilience come to mean to you after everything that you've experienced so far?

Resilience to me isn’t necessarily being tough all the time. You just need to move forward. When things get hard, just put one foot in front of the other. Keep going. It doesn’t matter how long it takes. Even when things hurt, even when things feel unfair, it’s about adapting, adjusting, and choosing not to let that hardship define your worth. Resilience doesn’t need to be loud. It can be quiet. I’ve lived that version of it.

What other piece of advice would you give to young people who are cleft-affected or struggling with confidence in general?

I would tell them to be gentle with themselves. It's already a hard world. Stay positive. Always stay positive. That is key to being happy and successful. Remember, the way you see yourself is not how other people see you. You’re more than your scars. You’re more than your surgeries. Confidence doesn’t happen overnight. It grows. Invest in people who are investing in you. Give yourself time to grow. Things do get easier. People are nicer when you get older, so just hang in there, and it’ll be okay.

As we wrap up, what’s one message or takeaway that you hope listeners leave this conversation with?

I hope listeners walk away with empathy. For parents, teachers, and peers, just understand that children with clefts are caring more than you realize. A little kindness goes a long way. For kids who are cleft-affected, it does get better. Life becomes bigger than the surgeries and the school years. There’s so much more ahead of you.

Well, that’s the end of our questions, but I really want to thank you for joining us today. I really appreciate learning about your journey because everyone’s journey in the cleft community is different, and it’s always really interesting to hear about it. Thank you so much, and I hope to keep in contact with you.