Today we had our first appointment with Sasha's craniofacial surgeon and it all went marvelously. Well, she wasn't a huge fan of letting him see the roof of her mouth (or lack thereof), but in all other respects the visit was a success. Dr. Siddiqi was very kind and patently answered all of our questions, Primary Children's Medical Center is clearly a first-rate institution, and we have surgery scheduled on May 13th! We have lots of doctor's appointments coming the the next weeks and months - a speech evaluation, a meeting with an Ear, Nose, and Throat doc at Primary to decide if Sasha also needs ear tubes (this is common with cleft kids because the jaw doesn't fit together quite right), surgery and follow-ups, and then a meeting with Sasha's whole cleft palate team (dentist, speech therapist, surgeon, etc) in the beginning of June. Whew!
Here's your cleft palate tidbit of the day:
We were really confused about the surgery because some websites we read indicated that if there wasn't gum involvement, the doctor just made some incisions in the sides of the palate and stretched the skin across. This made zero sense to us. But Dr. Siddiqi explained that with cleft palates, all of the ingredients for the palate are there (the skin and muscle), they just never formed a palate. So he takes those ingredients and stitches them together in the way they were meant to connect. Of course, it's more complicated than that and he has to make a few "loosening incisions" (yes, that idea makes me cringe, too)... but the basic idea is that he's taking the palate that's hiding on the sides of her mouth and putting it back where it belongs!
7 comments:
She and you will be in our prayers. It is ALWAYS hard to see a baby in the hospital but the good news is, these days cleft palates are completely doable. But I know you will be glad when this is behind you so GLAD you got a quick surgery date!
Very interesting information. I admit it makes me tingle a little at the thought of loosening and stretching and all that, but bottom line I am very happy to hear that not only does your team think it's not super complicated, but also that you were able to get a surgery date so quickly! That's great news.
We will be praying for you guys let us know if you need anything or help with the boys.
My prayers are with you. I'm sure she'll do great and be so grateful when she's older - since she won't remember a thing. You on the other hand....
Take care,
Lou Ann & Lexie too
Hey I want you to know I will be praying for you all. We will be busy right along with you at many DR. visits. So when we go I will be thinking of you all too.
Tracy
Lots of prayers for a quick recovery! That is very interesting information too. I am always fascinated by things like that - like how it all works and I wondered exactly what they did. Your mouth is one of the fastest healing areas of your body so that is good! May 13th - that is my niece Galina's birthday (adopted from Russia) so we will definitely remember the day to send lots of prayers :)
Wow...how great to have a surgery date scheduled! May 13th...think we'll remember that!!! :) I'm just trying to say "craniofacial" five times fast!! How long do they expect Sasha to be in the hospital? And how does she eat afterwards while her palate is healing? We'll say extra prayers for everyone!!!!
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