Laura's Palate

Our Laura was born with a cleft lip and palate. Cleft lip and/or palate is actually the most common birth defect. In the United States, 1 of every 600 births is affected by a cleft lip and/or palate. Some children are born with just a cleft lip, some with just a cleft palate, and some with both. There is also varying degrees and severity of the cleft (how large the openings are in the lip and mouth.)

Laura's cleft lip was fixed in China, when she was about 9 months old. However, her palate remains open. Although she has figured out how to eat with her open palate, she is unable to suck and chew properly. Food often comes out her nose and she cannot use basic "baby" items like sippy cups, bottles, etc, because she is unable to suck. She will have surgery when we get home to repair the hole in her mouth. I am thankful to have found an ENT I trust who will examine her a few days after we get home and then help us decide on how and when to move forward on her surgery. Laura needs her palate to learn to eat and speak properly.  However, the surgery is intense and painful. We are praying for discernment on timing.