New dad Tom Kohler-Cadmore raising awareness of cleft lips

The cleft has meant Kohler-Cadmore and Melissa have had to make some adaptations for Dougie in these early weeks, particularly around feeding him using a special bottle.

He will undergo two operations next year on his lip and hard palate and then months later his soft palate – in the roof of his mouth – while there will be another operation in the future on his gum.

The couple both praised the support they have had from CLAPA in providing them with resources, advice and support groups as they have navigated the past few months.

“We’ve had so much help from the charities and medical staff and actually then it didn’t seem quite so daunting,” Melissa said.

“It just felt like you had support and a community around you.”

Kohler-Cadmore is now back playing for Somerset in the final matches of the season and said that being a new father has given him a motivation “bigger than yourself” to play well on the field.

Raising awareness of the work done by CLAPA has also brought a new incentive to do well at the crease.

“The more time you’re out in the middle the more exposure there is for the charity,” he said.

“It’s a big motivation of mine to bat a long time and score a lot of runs because if i’m in the changing room then they’re not seeing any of the sticker.”