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The following are stories written by mothers, fathers, and grandparents about their children and their experience with various craniofacial conditions. As you can see by their smiles, everyone has made great strides and are shining examples of wonderful children!
 Kinsley
Daughter of Gregg and Tabitha
Chattanooga, TN
I remember it like it was yesterday, a day I will never forget. You pray everyday for a healthy baby. When the day comes that they give you bad news, you are never prepared. It doesn't matter if it's big or small, when something is wrong with your child, you are devastated. During an ultrasound on January 11, 2006, my husband and I found out our baby girl had a cleft lip and 95% sure there was a cleft palate. The next day we met with Terri Farmer of Dr. Sargent's group. She was great and took us through everything we needed to know. The meeting was a blur because I sat and cried and my husband hardly spoke. In less than 24 hours our whole life changed. My mom asked questions for us and took notes. I left with a lot more knowledge, but I was still an emotional wreck. There was no question as to who would do her surgery. Dr. Sargent came with an amazing reputation.
Those first few weeks I was in a fog and cried all the time. I prayed and asked everyone to pray as well. After talking with my priest, I finally accepted what could not be changed, moved on, and decided to be happy for the remaining months of my pregnancy. One day, my husband said, "So she will be born with a busted lip". We knew humor would get us through. I learned how to take care of her and what I would need. When delivery time arrived, I had such calmness because I knew she was in God's hands. At delivery, the doctors told us wonderful news that it was only her lip and the tip of her palate.
A month later we met with Dr. Sargent, and he said she would only require one surgery where he would repair her lip and gum. On July 19, 2006, it was time for surgery. At 4-1/2 months old, we had to hand over our sweet baby girl with the most beautiful wide smile. After surgery, Kinsley and I got in a routine of feeding, diapering, and bathing that worked well for us. 2-1/2 weeks later, we went back and had the Durabond removed, the nose stints out, and the NoNo's off. Kinsley took a normal bottle for the first time. I cried the whole time. She was beautiful before, but D. Sargent made her even more so afterwards. We are so appreciative of him. He is the most talented and gifted surgeon, and who knew he was right her, in Chattanooga, the whole time.
William
Son of Chad and Gina
Chattanooga, TN
After arriving five weeks early on July 2, 2005, William spent his first month of life in T.C. Thompson's Neonatal Unit. At birth, doctors noted that the infant's skull had an abnormal triangular shape, a craniofacial birth defect called metopic craniosynostosis. The Harris's were told that this condition would require major surgery before their child was twelve months old. In addition to his birth defect, he had feeding problems, failure to thrive, and poor muscle tone that necessitated two additional hospitalizations and ongoing physical and occupational therapy.
In May 2006, Dr. Larry Sargent and Dr. Timothy Strait performed an operation on the child to reshape his skull and to allow his brain to grow and expand normally. The results of the surgery were dramatic as his brow and orbits were normalized. Mrs. Harris laughs happily as she says that William now looks exactly like his grandfather's baby pictures! Instead of reflecting on the trials of the past year, Chad and Gina have their eyes set on the future. They treasure each day with William and they have dedicated themselves to helping other parents whose children are born with similar problems.
Trenton
son of Trenton and Gwendolyn
When I fist learned to Trenton's differences, I had so many fears. How would our family and friends receive him? How would the children of this world welcome him? How could we survive the year ahead knowing that it contained so much pain, both physical and emotional? But above all, I wanted to know why God could allow such things to happen?
And now I know. He sent Trenton with obvious external differences but it was the differences hidden within which ended up holding the answers. Trenton was given a broken lip, an open palate, and a schedule complete with seven serious surgeries the day he arrived. But God sent him with so much more. He sent him with strength I have rarely witnessed in grown and great men. He sent him with courage only warriors own. He sent him with deep peace and great joy in his heart that nothing in the world can ever steal away. And He gave him a light you'd imagine belonged solely to angels. Trenton shines and the people of this world have been helpless to ignore it. His story heals hearts, inspires faith, and reminds everyone to be grateful and to enjoy a perspective where life alone is a massive blessing and small irritations merely illusions sent to distract us from the countless treasures which accompany us moment after moment, wherever we may go.
Trenton is an unique gift capable of teaching us all many things. In his short months here, I have seen him banish fear and ignorance with a tender, still broken smile, capable of innocently and instantly disintegrating prejudice. He has taught of the awesome power of the human spirit as he has endured trauma nothing so precious should have ever owned, but come through it with such pure love and complete trust in the people around him, it is astonishing. And even as the tiniest man, Trenton has always demanded eye contact; never compassion, by holding eyes and giving love and kindness so selflessly. Trenton has earned hearts this way and those hearts have never looked at children like him the same way again.
Trenton has taught us to believe in miracles. His arrival after eight years of trying and to the great shock of our doubting doctors is a miracle in itself. But his repair, done as an artist would skillfully create beauty for the whole world to savor, is a miracle that no one can deny. Finally, Trenton has taught us all the strength of faith. As parents, it is our greatest desire to protect our children from the dangers they may face. But the truth remains, our shield will never be wide enough to protect them from it all. Well, God's shield is, and if you have ever doubted that, take a moment to look at my child.
As each obstacle has arisen before him, God has arrived and embraced him. And He has also carried each of us who have suffered by his side. We treasure the opportunity to guide Trenton through his years and could not be more grateful that we were permitted to be his parents. While life constantly presents moments to stand in awe of God's creation, Trenton's presence is a continuous reminder that we are blessed by an awesome and kind Lord. Thank you God, for Trenton Haven.
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