You can download a digital version of our summer newsletter here.
Thank you for bringing Alonso’s smile to life.
Alonso is the youngest of a loving, close knit family of 5 who came to the US from the Dominican Republic in 2015 when he was just a baby. Born with Crouzon Syndrome, he was later diagnosed with Craniosynostosis – two craniofacial conditions that resulted in the bones of his face and skull not forming properly.
Join Families Across the Nation for the myFace Virtual Summer Series
On July 9th, myFace kicked off its new nationwide Virtual Summer Series with a Read Aloud Program featuring R.J. Palacio who shared her children’s book We’re All Wonders.
This inaugural program, which has already been viewed by thousands of children and families across the country, was the first of more than a dozen live virtual events scheduled over the next 2 months.
The myFace Virtual Summer Series program will help to provide compelling educational, creative,
and community-building content for our patients, families and greater craniofacial community, as well as the general public. Most importantly, we will offer these programs at no charge to our participants. The series includes:
Read Alouds – Authors of popular children’s books will read their books and offer a live Q&A.
Virtual Family Hours – Interactive programs are being created featuring NYC Kids Performance Group, The Paper Bag Players and interactive presentations by a magician and an artist.
Self-care in Times of COVID-19
Read our Q&A with Dr. Aileen Blitz, a team psychologist at the myFace Center for Craniofacial Care NYU Langone Health.
Q: After many months of isolation, what advice do you have to stay calm and optimistic?
We are all facing a challenging time but the most important thing to do is keep perspective, this will not last forever, nothing does.
Reach out to friends, family, old friends you haven’t spoken to, co-workers—stay connected, every single day.
Try to go outside if you can get some Vitamin D (sunshine) for at least 20 minutes a day. As Spring blooms around the country, it is wonderful to watch flowers bloom and take in the season with a whole new perspective.
It is important to keep a routine – of waking up and going to bed, of exercise – even if it is light stretching or a walk around your own house, etc.
Get creative: Cook, bake, maybe adult coloring books for relaxation, jigsaw puzzles, learn to draw or paint, garden if you have outdoor space or try to create an indoor herb garden, rearrange your furniture—it might feel like you just redecorated
A place for patients and families to turn to when they need it most
We couldn’t provide these support groups without you. Thank you!
Psychosocial care plays such a critical role in positive outcomes for those impacted by craniofacial differences. Dina Zuckerberg, Director of Family Programs, coordinates and co-leads emotional support groups that are designed to provide guidance, counsel and community for our patients, siblings and parents
Prior to the COVID19 outbreak, these myFace support groups were delivered as monthly in-person meetings. However, with the shelter-in-place restrictions in force, myFace needed to pivot and find a way to continue to provide this important resource. By quickly adapting to a virtual environment – thank
you, Zoom! – everyone now has access to these groups from home or wherever they may be. In fact, attendance has almost doubled and the groups are meeting now 2-4 times a month!
“Being in a group like this just feels right and being surrounded by people who know, on the same level, what it means to have a facial difference and the daily struggle that comes with that is invaluable. Thank you for welcoming me with such open arms.”
– Kelsey, Moebius Syndrome, Alberta, Canada
Join us for our 8th Annual Races for Faces Event
When: September 26, 2020, 9am EDT
Join us from wherever you are!
We weren’t kidding when we said you can be anywhere for this year’s Races for Faces! Team Paprikás Csirke, led by myFace Star, Abby Rucker, is participating all the way from Romania. In fact, they are one of our Races for Faces Grand Marshals!
Abby Rucker (with hoodie) pictured with her family
myFace is near and dear to the Rucker family’s heart. Abby was born with a unilateral-cleft lip and palate in early 2001 and her first surgery took place in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. Despite the chaos of the day, the myFace Center team never took their focus off Abby and her family. Now a college student, Abby is also an accomplished musician, singer and composer.
Please join myFace and Team Paprikás Csirke for this year’s Races for Faces as we walk separately, but together in solidarity on September 26th.
You can download a digital version of our summer newsletter here.
