The effects of the disability have decreased over the years as methods of habilitation have improved--the now successful surgical techniques followed by more normal development. The battle is not over, though, because society still attaches a stigma to this anomaly and the speech and hearing handicaps that can result. It remains a challenge to the resources of the cleft palate team nurse to deal with the adverse forces of nature in the habilitation process, as well as the discriminatory attitudes of society toward the patient. The reward is the satisfaction derived from contributing to this life-changing treatment.