It started witha smile.

Brandon Lipman grew up in Naples, Florida. He was born with a cleft lip and cleft palate. Doctors didn't know before he was born; he was rushed away right after birth, and he had his first batch of surgeries over his first two years to repair his lip and palate.

In kindergarten, with his mom's help, Brandon wrote My Puzzling Smile, a children's book to explain to his classmates why he looked different, and that being different is okay. By seventh grade he was doing book signings, and he gave a copy to every kid in his class each year.

After his first surgeries, his mom, Karen Lipman, wrote Don't Despair, Cleft Repair! for parents of cleft-affected children. Printed on one of its front pages is the message that has carried the family ever since:

"In every cloud there is a silver lining."

She turned a gray cloud into a way to show other families there is hope. Both books were published by Lipman Creations, the family's publisher.

In 2008, Brandon started Clefts United to keep the books going out to cleft-affected families. They have reached hospital waiting rooms as far away as Beijing and Australia.

Today, Clefts United carries a bigger idea. A cleft is a small space between two parts. So is every difference between people. We exist to bridge it.