Purpose:

To describe the lived experience of Jordanian parents of children with congenital orofacial clefts, explorethe challenges facing parents of children with congenital orofacial clefts, and assess the coping mechanisms thatthe parents use in caring for their children.Design and methods: The study used a qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach, in which semistructured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 20 parents (2 fathers and 18 mothers) of children from 1 year to 8 years of age with congenital orofacial clefts who come to the Royal Rehabilitation Center fortreatment and care. The data were analyzed using Colaizzi's method for qualitative data analysis.Results: Four distinct themes captured and reflected the lived experience of Jordanian parents who have a childwith congenital orofacial clefts: (1) parental emotions and resilience, (2) challenges of parenting, (3) healthcareexperiences, and (4) societal perceptions and stigma.Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the experience of parents who have a child with congenitalorofacial clefts is stressful due to a lack of awareness among parents and the community about the challengesthey face in caring for their children. A robust support system and high-quality healthcare systems help mitigatethese challenges.Practical implications: This study indicated the importance of increasing awareness in the community aboutcongenital orofacial clefts and raising the level of healthcare provider's ability to meet the requirements of thiscategory of society.