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cleft palate

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 […]

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,” […]

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. […]

During Liane Rensing’s 20-week ultrasound, it was discovered that her baby, Mila, had a cleft lip. This diagnosis expanded when Mila was born with a right-sided incomplete unilateral cleft lip and a complete cleft palate. The first year of her life brought challenges to the Rensing family as they learned to navigate caring for Mila. “We learned how to feed and take care of her with feeding devices like special nipples and bottles,” explains Liane. “We had to figure out how to tape specifically designed appliances to Mila’s nose and forehead to prepare her for her cleft surgeries. Miami felt like our second home since we traveled there for Mila’s numerous surgeries and appointments.” In their pursuit of finding the best care for Mila as she grew older, the Rensing family discovered Nemours Children’s Health. Their first experience with Nemours Children’s was with an audiology test and sleep consultations with […]