Brody’s journey began before he was born. During a routine anatomy scan, Beth and her husband learned that one of their twins, Brody, would be born with a cleft lip and possibly a cleft palate. “I was pregnant with twins through IVF and was sent to Nemours Fetal Care,” shares Beth. “After finding out about Brody’s diagnosis, we did a lot of research and compared to teams in Tampa. After a facetime with Dr. Kellogg to ask him questions, we knew we found Brody’s doctor and team.”
Upon Brody’s birth, he encountered difficulties due to his cleft lip and palate. “Prior to surgical intervention, Brody struggled with feedings; milk would come out his nose, he drooled a lot, and I don’t think he was able to hear well,” Beth shared. These challenges emphasized the need for specialized care, which they found at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida.
Despite living over two hours away, Beth was determined to keep Brody and his twin sister, Breanna, under the care of Nemours Children’s. “I have been to many other clinics, and nothing compares for pediatrics,” shares Beth. “I will always keep Brody with his amazing craniofacial team at Nemours no matter the drive! From the moment we enter the doors to the security guards, registration desks, nurses, doctors, etc., everyone is friendly and explains everything to not only me, but also the children. It takes a special type of person to care for pediatrics and Nemours is filled with them!”
Beth’s praise for Dr. Kellogg and Brody’s craniofacial team is unending. “Dr. Brian Kellogg is the very best,” she shares. “The entire team he has built is wonderful. He takes his time to explain everything and answer all my questions. He makes sure to make Brody comfortable at all visits. He has gone above and beyond and given stuffed animals to not only Brody but to his twin sister Breanna as well. He truly cares about his patients, and it shows.”
Beth shared a touching story about Dr. Kellogg’s support following the passing of her husband. “When Brody’s father passed away in 2020, Dr. Kellogg made it a point to attend his Celebration of Life and framed special pictures of Brody and his Dad for us to have,” Beth recounted. These personal touches have made a lasting impact on Beth and her family.
The annual team meetings are another highlight for Beth, saving her time and providing care coordination for Brody. “Whenever we speak about Dr. Kellogg, Brody makes sure to say, ‘my favorite doctor!’ Brody now looks in the mirror and tells people what a good job Dr. Kellogg did on his smile. It warms my heart,” says Beth.
Brody’s continued care involves a multidisciplinary approach, with a team that includes his craniofacial specialists, ophthalmologist, neuropsychologist, and genetic counselor, all from Nemours Children’s. “We continue speech therapy by our house two days a week, and he is on an IEP with the public school system receiving speech as well and academic accommodations,” Beth explains.
To other parents navigating a similar journey, Beth offers this advice, “Your baby will be amazing. You get to fall in love with multiple smiles. I still sometimes miss Brody’s cleft smile, but my goodness, he has an infectious smile now.”
She encourages parents to be proactive in their child’s care. “Make sure you interview your doctors, ask questions, know what is happening and why, and you will feel more at ease. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to other people that have been in your shoes. Lean in on your support system.”
Beth’s unwavering commitment to her son’s health and her appreciation for Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, shines through in every word. This July, we honor Brody, his family, and all the children and families who face cleft and craniofacial conditions with courage and hope.
