{"id":17878,"date":"2023-01-24T18:45:32","date_gmt":"2023-01-24T23:45:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/?p=17878"},"modified":"2023-01-25T11:30:17","modified_gmt":"2023-01-25T16:30:17","slug":"winter23newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/es\/winter23newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter 2023 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><span style=\"color: #eb2b94;\"><a style=\"color: #eb2b94;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/myFace-your-impact-winter-2023-newsletter-web-single-pages-final.pdf\">Click here to download the PDF version of the newsletter.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #2fbed0;\"><strong>Dear Reader,<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Happy New Year! As we enter 2023, I reflect with gratitude on how much you make possible. In this issue of the <em><strong>myFace | YOUR IMPACT<\/strong><\/em> newsletter, we aim to showcase how your support makes a critical difference in our community each day. I invite you to read about some of the 2022 highlights that came to life because of you.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Emily, a young woman who was inspired by our<\/span> <span style=\"color: #2fbed0;\"><em><strong>Newborn Craniofacial Car<span style=\"color: #2fbed0;\">e Kit<\/span><\/strong><\/em><strong><em> Program<\/em><\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">, has chosen to give back to the myFace community for her Mitzvah Project.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The annual<\/span> <em><span style=\"color: #2fbed0;\"><strong>myFace Holiday Party<\/strong><\/span><\/em> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">brought cheer to 200 kids and parents, and provided a space for those with craniofacial differences to celebrate being their unique selves.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Throughout the year, the<\/span> <em><strong><span style=\"color: #2fbed0;\">myFace Family Apartment Program<\/span><\/strong><\/em> w<span style=\"color: #000000;\">elcomes dozens of families for apartment stays while they receive medical treatment, like Dara and her mom.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The<\/span> <span style=\"color: #2fbed0;\"><em><strong>El myFace Wonder Project (Un proyecto basada el en libro \u201cWonder\u201d)<\/strong><\/em><\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">brings messages of kindness, inclusion, and being an Upstander against bullying to a new generation of students at Pleasantville Middle School.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">October\u2019s<\/span> <span style=\"color: #2fbed0;\"><em><strong>Transforming Lives<\/strong> <\/em><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">webinar provided answers to questions that explored the <em>Management of Hearing Loss Associated with Cleft Lip\/Palate and Other Craniofacial Conditions<\/em>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As I look to 2023 and beyond, I know there is much to be accomplished. Together, we can make a lasting impact on individuals with facial differences and their families &#8211; ensuring that they have the resources they need to thrive and know they are never alone.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Thank you for making what we do possible!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-9424\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/stephanie-staff-close-282x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/stephanie-staff-close-282x300.jpg 282w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/stephanie-staff-close-768x816.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/stephanie-staff-close-963x1024.jpg 963w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/stephanie-staff-close.jpg 1856w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stephanie Paul<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Executive Director, myFace\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">P.S. If you can,<\/span> <strong><span style=\"color: #eb2b94;\"><a style=\"color: #eb2b94;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/es\/yourimpactwinter2023\/\">please consider giving a gift to myFace<\/a><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> to provide education, support, and access to holistic comprehensive care for individuals with facial differences and their families. With my appreciation!<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #2fbed0;\"><em>OY<\/em> TO THE WORLD: A Mitzvah Project to Help Families in Need<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17879 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Emily-Levy-_image_6487327.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"187\" height=\"277\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Emily-Levy-_image_6487327.jpg 631w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Emily-Levy-_image_6487327-203x300.jpg 203w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Emily-Levy-_image_6487327-8x12.jpg 8w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 187px) 100vw, 187px\" \/><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Meet Emily. She\u2019s a smart and talented 7th grader. Her favorite subject is math and she loves to sing in her school\u2019s musicals and acapella group. What also makes Emily special is her unbeatable smile, regardless of being born with a cleft lip and palate.Approximately 1 in 700 babies in the world are born with a cleft each year, which can cause difficulties eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Emily was fortunate to have had her surgeries performed by Dr. David Staffenberg &#8211; first when he was part of the team at the Children\u2019s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM), and then later when he moved to the <em><strong>myFace Center for Craniofacial Care at NYU Langone Health<\/strong><\/em> &#8211; where she continued her care. And while now all that remains is a barely visible scar above her lip, she recalls her mom telling her how the specially designed cleft bottles she used to feed Emily during the first year of her life made all the difference in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Now that she\u2019s 12 years old and becoming a Bat Mitzvah, Emily wanted to do something deeply personal and meaningful, and give back to the community that helped her and her family when they needed it most.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">She found that the <strong><em>myFace Newborn Craniofacial Care Kit<\/em><\/strong> program was a perfect project as it helps families with limited financial resources receive the items they need to care for their babies born with a cleft. The kits include everything needed for the first month of a baby\u2019s life, including those specially designed bottles that helped Emily and her parents twelve years ago.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #2fbed0;\">Knowing that compassion, giving to those in need, and making the world a better place is a \u201cmitzvah,\u201d Emily was inspired to dedicate her Mitzvah Project to support myFace.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">So far, Emily has raised close to $1,400 from family and friends who were inspired to support her efforts &#8211; enough to provide 8 newborn care kits! She told us that even people that she didn\u2019t know directly were moved by her story and wanted to help by making a donation. Mazel Tov, Emily! We applaud your thoughtfulness and compassion, and your desire to do what you can to make this world a better place.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you are planning a Mitzvah Project of your own or a special fundraiser, please contact Karen Lazarus, Director of Campaign Development, at<\/span> <strong><span style=\"color: #eb2b94;\">Karen@myFace.org<\/span><\/strong> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">or 917-720-4715. To learn more about the program or to make a donation, visit<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/es\/newborn-craniofacial-care-kits\/\"><strong><span style=\"color: #eb2b94;\">www.myface.org\/carekits<\/span><\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #2fbed0;\"><b>THE MYFACE ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY: Where Kids Get to Celebrate Being Themselves <\/b><\/span><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-17884\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Holiday-Party-2022_Santa_20221208-P1288696-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"235\" height=\"177\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For most kids, the idea of going to see Santa Claus is what dreams are made of. But for children with facial differences, going to a mall to sit on Santa\u2019s lap means getting stared at and often feeling like an outsider. That is why myFace hosts an annual holiday party for our children and families &#8211; to provide a safe and festive place to celebrate together &#8211; but more importan<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">tly, a place where each and every member of the craniofacial community can celebrate their unique selves.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">On December 8th, nearly 200 members of the myFace Family gathered together, including kids with facial differences and their families, medical and dental students, staff, our Board of Trustees, and of course, Santa!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> It was such a heartfelt community event, and we are so thankful to everyone who helped make it so special. Like our friends Nikki and Ben Kaufman &#8211; parents of a child with a craniofacial condition &#8211; who generously hosted our party at their Columbus Circle CAMP store and provided fun arts and crafts activities. Thanks to Michael Muoio of Villa Rustica Pizzeria and Trattoria (who also has a child with a facial difference), the families dined together before meeting Santa.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17885 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Holiday-Party-2022_20221208-REIS9764-scaled-e1674598089212.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"231\" height=\"198\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Holiday-Party-2022_20221208-REIS9764-scaled-e1674598089212.jpg 1676w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Holiday-Party-2022_20221208-REIS9764-scaled-e1674598089212-300x258.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Holiday-Party-2022_20221208-REIS9764-scaled-e1674598089212-1024x880.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Holiday-Party-2022_20221208-REIS9764-scaled-e1674598089212-768x660.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Holiday-Party-2022_20221208-REIS9764-scaled-e1674598089212-1536x1320.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Holiday-Party-2022_20221208-REIS9764-scaled-e1674598089212-14x12.jpg 14w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 231px) 100vw, 231px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Because of the outpouring of volunteer support, each child took home a wrapped present to put under their tree. Special thanks goes to Massimo Sheinin, a 14-year-old from NJ born with a cleft lip; NYU Medical Student Sofia Perez Otero; students from NYU Dental School; members of the Oral Maxillofacial Surgery Society; fellow nonprofit UNITY SME; and the CARES Committee at The Kips Bay Towers &#8211; home of myFace headquarters! <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We are still feeling warm and fuzzy over a month later, and will continue to reflect on the generosity of our community until we gather together again next year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To see more photos of the event, visit<\/span> <strong><span style=\"color: #eb2b94;\"><a style=\"color: #eb2b94;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/es\/gallery\/holidayparty2022\/\">myFace.org\/gallery\/holidayparty2022<\/a><\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #2fbed0;\"><b>THE MYFACE FAMILY APARTMENTS: <\/b><\/span>Just One of the Many Resources We Offer to Our Community<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17894 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Dara-Obisesan-2-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"158\" height=\"211\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Dara-Obisesan-2-scaled.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Dara-Obisesan-2-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Dara-Obisesan-2-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Dara-Obisesan-2-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Dara-Obisesan-2-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Dara-Obisesan-2-9x12.jpg 9w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 158px) 100vw, 158px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Meet Dara, a 4th grader from CT who loves doing gymnastics, playing the bass, telling knock knock jokes, and studying science (specifically geology). Dara was also born with a cleft lip and palate, and has been a patient at the <em><strong>myFace Center for Craniofacial Care<\/strong><\/em> at NYU since she was just four days old. Dara and her parents recently stayed at the myFace Family Apartments when she came to NYC to undergo closure of a fistula (an opening) in her palate &#8211; a complication sometimes associated with cleft palate repair. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Over the years, Dara has grown to be very confident and talkative. She has learned how to advocate for herself; and readily explains her condition to classmates when asked. Dara\u2019s mother, Ann-Marie, encourages other members of the craniofacial community to take advantage of all of the resources myFace has to offer, saying:<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h5><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em><strong>\u201cAlthough having a child with a craniofacial condition may be challenging at times, it is important to remember the tremendous array of resources we have through myFace. The apartments are just one of them. <\/strong><\/em><em><strong>myFace has truly been there every step of the way &#8211; providing both physical and emotional support &#8211; which has empowered and prepared Dara and our family to tackle anything that comes our way.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #2fbed0;\"><b>THE MYFACE WONDER PROJECT: Inspiring A New Generation at Pleasantville Middle School<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Each year, myFace brings the <em><strong>El myFace Wonder Project (Un proyecto basada el en libro \u201cWonder\u201d)<\/strong><\/em> to thousands of students across the country (both virtually and in person) to spread messages of kindness and how to be an Upstander against bullying. A recent <em><strong>El myFace Wonder Project (Un proyecto basada el en libro \u201cWonder\u201d)<\/strong> <\/em>assembly was particularly special for Dina Zuckerberg, myFace Director of Family Programs, who was invited to meet 150 5th grade students at Pleasantville Middle School. She was invited by Colleen Sullivan, president of the school\u2019s Special Education PTA (SEPTA); and parent of Aidan, now 21, who was born with Goldenhar Syndrome and developmental delays. Aidan has been a patient at the <strong><em>myFace Center for Craniofacial Care<\/em><\/strong> at NYU Langone Health since birth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-17905\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Wonder-Project-winter-newsletter-2023.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"298\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Wonder-Project-winter-newsletter-2023.png 1504w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Wonder-Project-winter-newsletter-2023-300x149.png 300w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Wonder-Project-winter-newsletter-2023-1024x508.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Wonder-Project-winter-newsletter-2023-768x381.png 768w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Wonder-Project-winter-newsletter-2023-18x9.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Colleen was thrilled when her younger daughter Kaylee read R.J. Palacio\u2019s book WONDER when she was a student at Pleasantville, the book on which the <em><strong>El myFace Wonder Project (Un proyecto basada el en libro \u201cWonder\u201d)<\/strong><\/em> is based. The book\u2019s main character, Auggie, was particularly special for Kaylee, as he gave her a deeper understanding of her brother\u2019s experiences. Seeing firsthand how the book\u2019s themes of compassion, empathy, acceptance and inclusion affect readers, Colleen was eager to bring WONDER to a new generation of Pleasantville students.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h5><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI wanted Dina to come to our community and share her journey with the kids, and talk about the obstacles that she and other people with craniofacial differences &#8211; like my son &#8211; must navigate and overcome on a daily basis. The my- Face Wonder Project helps students, like my daughter, take the lessons from the book and apply them in real life. It was a pleasure and honor to bring this program to my community\u2019s school!\u201d &#8211; Colleen<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #2fbed0;\"><b>ASK THE EXPERTS: Q &amp; A\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #2fbed0;\"><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17906 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Winter-2023-Newsletter-Ask-the-Experts.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"426\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Winter-2023-Newsletter-Ask-the-Experts.png 878w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Winter-2023-Newsletter-Ask-the-Experts-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Winter-2023-Newsletter-Ask-the-Experts-768x406.png 768w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Winter-2023-Newsletter-Ask-the-Experts-18x10.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 426px) 100vw, 426px\" \/><\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In October\u00a0 2022, myFace presented a webinar on the<\/span> <strong><em><span style=\"color: #eb2b94;\"><a style=\"color: #eb2b94;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/es\/events-page\/hearingwebinar\/\">Management of Hearing Loss Associated with Cleft Lip\/Palate and Other Craniofacial Conditions<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<span style=\"color: #000000;\">as part of our free Transforming Lives series. Here are some of the questions posed during the program:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #2fbed0;\"><strong>Q: My son doesn\u2019t want to wear his hearing aid. Do you have any suggestions to help overcome this?<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Dr. Zanders:<\/strong> We see this a lot, as kids often don\u2019t want to stand out or appear different. It may be helpful for him to meet another child who wears a hearing aid, and shares similar experiences. Ask your audiologist if they have a social\/support group or family gathering. Also, it may help for the audiologist to demonstrate to him that he is able to hear better with his hearing aid versus without it. I also encourage families to make using a hearing aid a positive experience, and give their child some ownership over their hearing aids. It can also be great to connect with the school teacher and\/or audiologist to provide additional support for their child as well. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Courtney:<\/strong> We had this experience with Austin. We tried to be positive and encouraging, rather than getting on his case about it. For example, we would let him know that he was missing out on fun things \u2013 like invitations to parties \u2013 because he couldn\u2019t hear those conversations if he wasn\u2019t wearing his hearing aid. That helped. And once he started using the Frequency Modulated (FM) system, he actually began to appreciate his assistive listening devices. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #2fbed0;\">Q for Courtney &#8211; What factors tipped your decision towards undergoing surgery?<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Courtney:<\/strong> Even with the hearing aid and FM system, Austin was still missing out on a lot. After investigating different surgical options, we sat Austin down and said &#8220;This is what we\u2019re thinking &#8211; how do you feel about this?&#8221; We had developed a lot of trust in Dr. Bly. Austin had to undergo 2 major surgeries, but his hearing was dramatically improved by this approach. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Dr. Bly:<\/strong> I try to give families the information they need about available hearing devices and implants \u2013 as well as potential surgical options \u2013 so that they are empowered to make the best decision for their child. A lot of hearing devices are FDA approved for ages 5 and up, so age 5 is the time when we order a computerized tomography (CT) scan and start to consider the various options. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #2fbed0;\">Q for Courtney: What have you done to advocate for your Austin?<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Courtney:<\/strong> We started Early Intervention as soon as possible, in Austin\u2019s Pre-K program. We also set up an Individualized Education Program (IEP) plan as soon as possible. This included some self-advocacy goals for Austin, so that he could learn to advocate for himself. I\u2019ve also worked hard to build a good relationship with his school. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #2fbed0;\">Q for Austin: How was your hearing improved by the surgery?<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Austin:<\/strong> After taking just a step outside, I felt like a new person! I could hear things the most clearly I ever have. I felt like the world just said &#8220;hello&#8221; to me, and welcomed me in.<\/p>\n<p>All Transforming Lives webinars are archived and available to view on <strong><span style=\"color: #eb2b94;\"><a style=\"color: #eb2b94;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/es\/event-category\/webinars\/\">myFace.org\/transforminglives<\/a><\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #2fbed0;\">THE FIGHT FOR ELSA WILL CONTINUE IN 2023<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17802 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/ELSA-logo.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"221\" height=\"166\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/ELSA-logo.png 644w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/ELSA-logo-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/ELSA-logo-16x12.png 16w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 221px) 100vw, 221px\" \/><span style=\"color: #000000;\">myFace, along with a broad coalition of 70+ national health care professional and patient advocacy organizations, took part in a number of advocacy initiatives led by the <strong>National Foundation of Ectodermal Dysplasias (NFED)<\/strong> throughout 2022 to advocate for the passage of an important piece of legislation: the <strong>Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA)<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Unfortunately, despite being passed in the House of Representatives with 310 votes on April 4th, 2022 &#8211; and gaining 62 sponsors\/cosponsors in the Senate &#8211; <strong>ELSA<\/strong> was not ultimately passed into law in the 117th Congress that ended on January 3rd, 2023. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The goal of <strong>ELSA<\/strong> is to close health insurance loopholes that currently prevent individuals born with congenital and craniofacial anomalies from getting the coverage they need for medically necessary treatments and procedures, and to guarantee comprehensive coverage for these individuals from birth through adulthood. This piece of legislation would be a game changer for individuals with facial differences and their families, and myFace will not stop fighting until it is passed into law. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Although we are disappointed with this outcome, our work on this front will continue. We made a lot of progress building bipartisan support for <strong>ELSA<\/strong> this year, which we hope to expand upon in 2023. We are so grateful to each and every one of you who joined in our advocacy efforts throughout the past year, and will be in touch again soon with further updates as the fight for <strong>ELSA<\/strong> continues! To join our advocacy efforts, visit <strong><span style=\"color: #eb2b94;\"><a style=\"color: #eb2b94;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/es\/ELSA\/\">myFace.org\/ELSA<\/a><\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #2fbed0;\"><b>UPCOMING EVENTS: Mark your Calendars<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To learn more about the upcoming webinar on February 13th, 2023, visit<\/span> <strong><span style=\"color: #eb2b94;\"><a style=\"color: #eb2b94;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/es\/events-page\/diagnosis-and-management-of-craniosynostosis\/\">myFace.org\/CraniosynostisWebinar<\/a><\/span><\/strong> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">and register today!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17908 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/February-2023-Webinar.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"266\" height=\"268\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/February-2023-Webinar.png 998w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/February-2023-Webinar-298x300.png 298w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/February-2023-Webinar-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/February-2023-Webinar-768x773.png 768w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/February-2023-Webinar-12x12.png 12w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/February-2023-Webinar-189x189.png 189w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/February-2023-Webinar-85x85.png 85w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 266px) 100vw, 266px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We look forward to seeing you at <em><strong>myFace Celebrates&#8230;<\/strong><\/em> on Monday, May 15th. Please mark your calendar to join us either in person at the Edison Ballroom in NYC or virtually through our live broadcast! More information to come.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17909 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/myFace-Celebrates-2023-save-the-date.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"451\" height=\"158\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/myFace-Celebrates-2023-save-the-date.png 1950w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/myFace-Celebrates-2023-save-the-date-300x105.png 300w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/myFace-Celebrates-2023-save-the-date-1024x359.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/myFace-Celebrates-2023-save-the-date-768x269.png 768w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/myFace-Celebrates-2023-save-the-date-1536x539.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/myFace-Celebrates-2023-save-the-date-18x6.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 451px) 100vw, 451px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Click here to download the PDF version of the newsletter. Dear Reader, Happy New Year! As we enter 2023, I reflect with gratitude on how much you make possible. In this issue of the myFace | YOUR IMPACT newsletter, we aim to showcase how your support makes a critical difference<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"sd-more sd-all-trans\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/es\/winter23newsletter\/#more-17878\">Leer m\u00e1s<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[312],"tags":[416,415,380,413,381,408,420,417,419,414,418],"class_list":["post-17878","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-newsletters","tag-ann-marie","tag-dara","tag-elsa","tag-emily-levy","tag-ensuring-lasting-smiles-act","tag-hearing-loss","tag-hearing-loss-webinar","tag-holiday-party","tag-management-of-hearing-loss-associated-with-cleft-lip-palate-and-other-craniofacial-conditions","tag-myface-holiday-party","tag-pleasantville-middle-school"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Winter 2023 Newsletter - myFace<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/es\/winter23newsletter\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_ES\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Winter 2023 Newsletter - myFace\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Click here to download the PDF version of the newsletter. Dear Reader, Happy New Year! As we enter 2023, I reflect with gratitude on how much you make possible. In this issue of the myFace | YOUR IMPACT newsletter, we aim to showcase how your support makes a critical differenceRead More\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/es\/winter23newsletter\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"myFace\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/myFaceFoundation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-01-24T23:45:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-01-25T16:30:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/stephanie-staff-close-282x300.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Katie Bazyluk\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@thisis_myface\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@thisis_myface\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Escrito por\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Katie Bazyluk\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Tiempo de lectura\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"13 minutos\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/winter23newsletter\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/winter23newsletter\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Katie Bazyluk\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/#\/schema\/person\/8bf7668878f88ed9bdaf3cb7523995f0\"},\"headline\":\"Winter 2023 Newsletter\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-01-24T23:45:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-01-25T16:30:17+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/winter23newsletter\/\"},\"wordCount\":2414,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/winter23newsletter\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/stephanie-staff-close-282x300.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Ann-Marie\",\"Dara\",\"ELSA\",\"Emily Levy\",\"Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act\",\"hearing loss\",\"Hearing Loss webinar\",\"Holiday Party\",\"Management of Hearing Loss Associated with Cleft Lip\/Palate and Other Craniofacial Conditions\",\"myFace Holiday Party\",\"Pleasantville Middle School\"],\"articleSection\":[\"NEWSLETTERS\"],\"inLanguage\":\"es\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/winter23newsletter\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/winter23newsletter\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.myface.org\/winter23newsletter\/\",\"name\":\"Winter 2023 Newsletter - 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