When Raelyn and James went for their 20-week ultrasound in December 2022, they were expecting to hear that everything was progressing perfectly with their baby boy. For the most part, things were. However, during the scan, the doctor and nurse discovered something unexpected—a cleft lip. They explained that their son, Evander, would be born with a unilateral cleft lip, and there was a chance he could also have a cleft palate.
For Raelyn, this news was overwhelming. As a new mom unfamiliar with clefts, she found herself navigating a whole new world. “I knew nothing about clefts before this,” she shares. “I spent a lot of time researching and preparing for any outcome.” Raelyn devoted herself to learning as much as she could, connecting with other families and educating herself about what lay ahead.
Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, was the first recommendation Raelyn and James received from their local doctor. The hospital’s cleft lip team, with the help of Dr. Mario Aycart, became a trusted source of support for the family. “The team who worked with my son was incredible,” Raelyn says. “They made this whole experience easy for our family. My favorite thing about them was the care they showed for our son.”
One moment that particularly stood out to Raelyn was when a member of the team, Kim Giordano, brought her dog into the hospital—a dog that also had a cleft lip. It was these personal touches that made all the difference during a time that could have easily felt overwhelming.
At just 6 months old, Evander underwent surgery to repair his cleft lip. “Recovery had its ups and downs,” Raelyn says. “Evander was not a fan of the aftercare. It was hard keeping his No-Nos on his arms, but now, almost a year later, his lip has healed beautifully and that part of our life feels so distant.”
With the surgery behind them, Raelyn and her family are looking forward to the future. Evander is growing into a smart, unique little boy, and while there may be additional care on the horizon—like a possible bone graft, braces, or speech therapy—Raelyn feels confident that Evander will overcome any challenges. “We’ll tell him about his cleft and how special that makes him,” she says.
For other parents going through a similar journey, Raelyn shares this advice, “Look into other families who have children with cleft lips. Speaking to mothers who were going through the same thing relieved so much anxiety for me.” She adds, “We fell in love with our baby’s first smile, and all those worries disappeared. Our son was in good hands and we got to fall in love with his smile all over again.”
As Evander continues to grow and thrive, Raelyn and her family are grateful for the care they received at Nemours Children’s Health, and they are excited to watch Evander enjoy every part of his childhood, with his bright smile leading the way.
