The same day Kirstin and Chris King found out they were having a baby boy, they also received some unexpected news. “We weren’t anticipating anything out of the usual,” said Kirstin. “But the look on the doctor’s face told us something was wrong.” The ultrasound images revealed their son’s jaw was visibly stunted, which left […]
Finding out your child will be born with a cleft lip and palate can be unexpected and distressing for many families. Plagued with questions, parents may wonder if their child will be able to thrive, have speech issues, or what their smile will look like. Dr. Craig Birgfeld, a craniofacial plastic surgeon at Seattle Children’s, […]
The movie “Wonder,” based on the New York Times bestseller, premiered worldwide today, and although the movie is fictional, the storyline sheds light on a rare craniofacial condition affecting one in 50,000 newborns: Treacher Collins syndrome. “Wonder” weaves together an inspiring tale of kindness, as viewers are transported into the world of August (Auggie) Pullman, […]
You’ve probably seen it before: something falls, a loud noise ensues, and a cat with an arched back and poofy tail sprints away. Unfortunately for 7-month-old Spencer Nicholson, when he loudly pulled a bin off a pantry shelf, the family cat was spooked right in his direction. Spencer fell on the floor and the cat, […]
When Dr. Richard Hopper, surgical director of Seattle Children’s Craniofacial Center, and his team of experts identify a problem, they won’t stop thinking about ways to solve it. Such was the case when they invented a device to help teach doctors in Africa how to perform cleft lip and palate surgery. Cleft lip and cleft […]
Charlie Nath, 11, is many things. He’s funny. He’s smart. He’s articulate. He’s courageous. He’s a surfer. He’s a snowboarder. He’s a drummer. What he’s not, is defined by his rare genetic condition: Crouzon syndrome. He says he wants the world to know, “It’s what’s on the inside that matters the most.” Changing the world […]
There were only a few weeks to go in Jennifer Schow’s seemingly normal pregnancy when her world turned upside down. She noticed she’d been gaining weight suddenly, more than she thought was expected. Her doctor said everything seemed fine, but something didn’t feel right. Feeling uneasy, she and her husband got a second opinion and […]
Watch little Alexis (Lexi) Melton, 7, Irish dance across a stage, or effortlessly ski down a slope, and you would never guess the hurdles she’s had to overcome in her short life. When Lexi was born, her family didn’t know if she would survive. Her extremely rare craniofacial condition literally makes her one in a […]
New experiences can be scary for children, and a hospital stay is probably one of the scariest new experiences for any child and their family. When a child or teen is scheduled for an overnight or extended hospital stay, parents can be confronted with not only the needs of their child, but also the anxiety […]
The first thing Dr. Michael Cunningham noticed was the crowding. Hundreds of African mothers and their young children, pressed shoulder to shoulder in a time-worn hospital’s hallway, waiting patiently for hours — if not days — to receive cleft lip and palate care for their child. It was then when he fully understood the importance […]
