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Plastic Surgery

Cleft And Craniofacial Awareness Month: Lex’s Story

When Lex was just a baby, his pediatrician noticed something was off about the shape of his head, leading to a diagnosis of craniosynostosis, a condition where the skull’s sutures fuse prematurely. Craniosynostosis is when one or more seams between bones in a child’s skull close too soon. When this happens, the skull can’t grow properly and develops a different shape. Despite facing multiple surgeries and challenges, Lex and his family have found unwavering support and care at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida. Through it all, Lex has shown incredible resilience.  “His pediatrician noticed that his head shape was not normal and immediately referred us to Nemours,” shares Lex’s mother, Courtney. At Nemours Children’s the medical team conducted a series of tests and scans. In addition to the craniosynostosis, Lex was also found to have elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure, pituitary gland shrinkage, and a host of symptoms, including severe headaches […]

National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness Month: Dylan’s Story

Born with a unilateral cleft lip and palate, Dylan’s journey has been marked by numerous surgeries and dedicated medical care. But it’s also a story of staying positive and forming lasting connections. A cleft of the lip or palate happens when a baby is born with an opening in the upper lip or the roof of the mouth (the palate). A cleft happens when parts of the lip and/or palate do not fuse together completely. For Dylan, this diagnosis has always been a part of his life. “I can’t really remember much from before then,” he reflects. “I always had the cleft lip and palate, and as a child, I thought it was normal. Every kid went through it.” When Dylan was around 5 years old, his family moved from California to Delaware. This relocation marked the beginning of his long-term relationship with Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. “My mother had to […]

National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness Month: Jackson’s Story

When doctors delivered the diagnosis of a cleft lip, Jackson’s parents found themselves at the start of a journey they hadn’t anticipated. During Christina’s 20-week anatomy scan, they learned about the condition and immediately began exploring care options to ensure Jackson’s well-being. During this process, Christina’s previous professional background at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware played a significant role in their decision-making. For 10 years, she had dedicated herself to the care and support of families at Nemours Children’s, including three years working in the surgery clinics as a Surgical Medical Assistant and had the privilege of collaborating with the cleft team. Her firsthand experience with the hospital’s expertise and compassionate care gave her a unique perspective. At Nemours, Jackson’s family discovered not just a hospital but a community of care and support. Dr. Mario Aycart, the surgeon responsible for Jackson’s cleft lip repair, was clear and reassuring in his communication. […]

Teamwork and Expertise: Karinda’s Story

Diagnosed with microtia at birth, Karinda’s hearing was immediately tested. The results confirmed that she had hearing loss due to bilateral microtia and atresia. Microtia is a congenital condition where the outer part of the ear (the pinna) is smaller than normal and may have an unusual shape. In bilateral cases, both ears are affected. After spending 8 days in the NICU, Karinda was transferred to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware where her family first met the team that would guide them through a long-term care journey. From the start, it has been a collaborative effort among expert Nemours Children’s specialists to provide Karinda with the best possible care. Now 8 years old, the most recent step in Karinda’s treatment has been ear reconstruction surgery. This procedure has brought together Nemours physicians from across the country including Dr. Angelo Leto Barone from Orlando and Dr. Mario Aycart from Delaware. Karinda has […]

Care You Can Trust: Joey’s Story

An exciting birthday party took an unexpected turn when a playful game of tag ended in a traumatic injury. During the celebration, 6-year-old Joey was bitten on the face by a dog, an incident that quickly changed the tone of the day. Thankfully, his parents didn’t have to think twice about where to turn. As longtime patients of Nemours Children’s, they took their son to the place they’ve trusted for years. “We instantly knew we were in the best of hands considering the situation we were facing,” shares Joey’s mom, Shae. “Joey was in incredible pain, and his right lip was in a horrible condition. We were unsure of the severity of his situation, but we knew Nemours would be able to help him and provide him with trusted care. This was proven true upon our arrival.” “The care offered to Joey and the whole family was immediate and genuine,” […]

Associate Highlight: Yeraldi Geronimo, CCC-SLP, BE

Yeraldi is more than just a speech-language pathologist, she’s a key part in helping children communicate with confidence. As a member of the plastic surgery department at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, Yeraldi works closely with children with cleft lip and palate, craniofacial conditions, and other diagnosis that affect communication. “I have always known that I wanted to work with children,” shares Yeraldi. “My interest in the field was sparked when my mother introduced me to a friend who worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). After observing her work one day, I was immediately captivated by the profession. What resonated most with me was witnessing the profound impact of effective communication and the ability to help children find their voice.” One of her favorite aspects of working at Nemours Children’s is the culture of teamwork. “I feel incredibly fortunate to work alongside such a talented, supportive, and intelligent group of professionals,” […]

Celebrating Rare Disease Day: Mia’s Story

Six-year-old Mia is a vibrant, outgoing little girl who lights up every room she enters. Born with several rare and complex medical conditions, Mia has already undergone more surgeries than many will face in a lifetime. Her resilience, boundless energy, love for singing and dancing, and dreams of becoming a nurse (or the next Taylor Swift!) inspire everyone around her. Mia’s medical journey began the day she was born, bringing with it a unique set of challenges. Diagnosed with Pierre Robin Sequence, complete tracheal rings, infantile scoliosis, hip dysplasia, ulnar dysplasia, an ectopic pelvic kidney, and clubfeet, Mia quickly showed she was ready to tackle whatever came her way. “Mia was immediately transported to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware from our local hospital right after she was born,” shares her mother, Janelle. “She was in the NICU for 65 days. I drove back and forth, from Wildwood NJ to Wilmington DE, […]

A Journey of Confidence: Dani’s Story

Dani has spent the past five years navigating life with Poland Syndrome. Diagnosed at 14, Dani’s journey took her from feeling insecure about her body to embracing newfound confidence, all with the help of the compassionate team at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. Poland Syndrome is a condition characterized by the underdevelopment or absence of chest muscles. For Dani, it began to significantly affect her during puberty. “It really started to affect me when I realized that my left breast was not growing as my other one was,” shares Dani. This physical difference impacted her self-esteem, especially during the summer when finding a bathing suit seemed impossible. “It made me very insecure, and it was hard to find confidence within myself,” she shares. Simple activities like shopping for summer shirts or feeling comfortable at the beach became daunting challenges. Dani’s connection to Nemours Children’s began with her sister, who had been […]

Amazingly Resilient: Addison’s Story

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 […]

Coordinated Care: Micah’s Story

Micah’s journey began with some unexpected twists and turns, before he even entered this world. “Before Micah was born, we received the news that he might have Down syndrome through routine blood work during pregnancy,” shares his mother, Kaitlyn. “It was a whirlwind of emotions, but we leaned on the support and expertise of Nemours from the very beginning.” Kaitlyn’s family have been seeing providers at Nemours Children’s throughout the Delaware Valley ever since her firstborn arrived prematurely. Her GYN office recommended Nemours Children’s, and they found the care to be exceptional, so they continued with Micah’s treatment there. It was his team at Nemours that diagnosed Micah with Trisomy 21, commonly known as Down syndrome, along with clubfoot and a cardiac concern – coarctation of the aorta. Nemours became their beacon of hope, with a multidisciplinary team ready to address Micah’s complex needs. From the Trisomy 21 Clinic to […]

Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month: Brody’s Story

Brody’s journey with Nemours Children’s began before he was even 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. […]

A Journey With Craniosynostosis: Georgia’s Story

At 11 months old, Georgia has already shown incredible resilience and strength throughout her life. Diagnosed with isolated nonsyndromic unilateral craniosynostosis at 8 weeks of age, Georgia’s journey has been a whirlwind of medical appointments, treatments, and hopeful recovery. Karin and Edwin knew early on that something was different about their daughter, Georgia’s, head shape. They voiced their concerns during her 1-month and 2-month check-ups. At her 2-month appointment, the nurse practitioner conducted a thorough examination. It was then that they noticed an absence of the soft spot on the top of Georgia’s head. This was a critical moment for her family. Craniosynostosis is a condition where one or more seams between the bones in a child’s skull close too soon. This premature closure prevents the skull from growing properly and results in an abnormal head shape. If left untreated, craniosynostosis can increase intracranial pressure, leading to developmental problems, headaches, […]

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