Meaghan remembers the early days of her daughter Addison’s life vividly. Diagnosed with a cleft palate just days after birth, Addison’s journey began with a challenge. “She was having a very difficult time breastfeeding and just didn’t seem interested in eating,” recalls Meaghan. Suspecting a possible lip tie, she asked a nurse to check Addison’s mouth. Instead, the nurse discovered a cleft palate. From that moment, Meaghan began the process of feeding Addison using a bottle with a valve.
The cleft palate diagnosis impacted the Addison’s family’s daily routine significantly. With a 3-year-old son already keeping them busy, adjusting to Addison’s needs meant slowing down their usually fast-paced days. “In the very beginning, it would take about 45 minutes to an hour for one feeding,” says Meaghan. “With Addison struggling to eat, we had to take each day at a time.” However, with perseverance and patience, Addison began to improve daily, and the family learned what worked best for her.
Choosing the right medical facility for Addison’s treatment was crucial for Meaghan. After considering several options, she chose Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. “I chose Nemours because I like the location of the hospital, the facility itself, and we live right next door to the Deptford location,” shares Meaghan. “I also liked knowing the Deptford location was right next door to us in case we needed to seek future therapy services.” Once at Nemours Children’s, Addison began seeing Dr. Caterson and the cleft palate team, who recommended a surgery plan tailored to her needs. Their expertise and thorough approach reassured Meaghan that they had made the right choice.
From the beginning, the Nemours team made a significant impression on Addison’s family. “From the very first phone call, Kim Giordano was so friendly and helpful,” shares Meaghan. “She made me feel calm and reassured that everything would be okay. She made the process of coming to Nemours and setting up all the appointments very easy. Now almost a year later, she is always there to answer a message or give me a quick call back to answer any questions that I have. She even came down to see Addison after surgery and I naturally gave her a big hug to say thank you!”
Dr. Caterson, Addison’s primary doctor, also earned Meaghan’s trust. “We also have loved our time and appointments with Dr. Caterson,” says Meaghan. “He has been so thorough and diligent by explaining what a cleft palate is and what type of surgery our daughter needed. He also made us feel very confident and comfortable with Addison’s surgery.”
Meaghan also highlights feeding specialist, Gianie Perez, as a vital part of Addison’s early care. “She was a lifesaver those first 6-8 weeks of Addison’s life,” shares Meaghan. “She was there every step of the way as navigated how to feed Addison using different bottles, positions, nipple sizes, etc. I drove an hour to see her multiple times because she was so informative and patient with new techniques or strategies that we could use to improve Addison’s feeding abilities.”
Addison’s recovery from surgery was challenging, especially the first two days. Seeing Addison with stitches and sutures was tough for her family, but Addison’s strength shone through. “Shortly after, she was doing her very best to eat and drink as if nothing happened,” Meaghan shares. “I am so incredibly proud of her throughout this entire journey. Addison was amazingly resilient!” The family is now looking forward to the next milestones, including getting approval for Addison to start drinking from a straw cup and beginning solids, which they had delayed until after her surgery.
Meaghan’s advice to other parents facing similar challenges is: “Do not get overwhelmed by your child’s diagnosis. Take each day at a time. It truly does get easier with time.” Through the skilled and compassionate care at Nemours Children’s Health and the support of her family, Addison is on a path to a bright future!
