January is Birth Defects Prevention Month, and Akron Children’s Hospital is spreading the word about how common birth defects are, the toll they can take on a child’s health and well-being, and how to prevent them. Facts Birth defects are conditions present at birth that may adversely affect an individual’s health by changing the body’s […]
Max’s cleft palate journey continues with success
My son, Max, was born in the middle of a November blizzard in 2008 with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. Rewind to our 20 week ultrasound, where we were excited to find out his gender but were surprised to instead learn that he had a cleft. The tech was certain about his lip but […]
Finding ‘encouragement through weariness’ of cleft lip & palate repair with NAM
Dr. Niyant Patel walked into the pre-surgical room 10 minutes early in his charcoal colored scrubs, relaxed and with a smile on his face. “How ya feeling this morning, doc?” my husband asked him. “I’m feeling great. I slept good last night. I’m here early…you ready to get started?” It was 7 a.m. and we […]
How Dr. James Lehman and The Craniofacial Center Team Helped One Patient Find Her Smile
When I was pregnant, the thought of having twins was exciting and overwhelming. When I gave birth 7 weeks early, it was scary. But when I saw my baby girl for the first time, and she didn’t look as we expected, it was a huge mix of emotions. Our daughter, Olivia, was born with a […]
Kids have big smiles for Santa – and their surgeons (Photo Gallery)
Before the arrival of the big guy with a fuzzy beard and furry red velvet suit, the children attending a holiday party at Akron Children’s Hospital were enthralled by an assortment of creatures featuring natural fur – as well as shells, scales and tails.
Inside the OR: 3 month old has surgery to repair cleft lip (Photo gallery)
Salah and Reem Mustafa knew their fourth child was going to be born with a cleft lip and palate. They learned about the birth defect during a prenatal ultrasound.
