Local experts raise cleft palate awareness
July is National Cleft Palate Month
July is National Cleft Palate Month. About one in 700 infants in the U.S. are born with clefts, which is why medical professionals and advocacy groups are using the month to send a message to expectant parents.
It's no surprise that Francesca Muhlbaier can't get enough of her daughter's smile.
"Her smile literally lights up the room," Muhlbaier said.
Two-year-old Maya was born with a cleft palate.
"When we found out our baby was going to have a cleft, of course it's a complete shock," Muhlbaier said. "When you're baby comes out you love them no matter what they look like."
Now doctors can do so much more and do it early, many times with just two surgeries.
At the Cleft and Craniofacial Center at Johns Hopkins they do 150 surgeries. They can meet with a treat patients before a baby is born. They can tackle the problem right away.
"So they will frequently come in with the ultrasound photos. We take a look at them and we give them a lot of reassurance that this is something that's very, very repairable," Dr. Rick Redett said.
They also have a team to work with families. They're glad to see an entire month dedicated to raising awareness for the second most common birth defect.
"For families it's important. I think, for community it's important and I think, kind of everybody understanding because it is so common," said Kim Seifert, Cleft and Craniofacial Center coordinator.
That's what Muhlbaier learned early on that she's not alone.
"We have those memories of a few tough moments but it's all behind us within a year," Muhlbaier said.
Now they can look ahead and smile.