ARTICLES RELATED TO:
Plastic Surgery

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,” […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]