Three month old grandson going in for surgery
By Barb42
@Barb42 (4214)
United States
October 18, 2008 10:18pm CST
Our youngest grandson was born with a cleft lip. The doctors had told my son and his wife that he had to be at least 10 lbs and 3 months old before they could operate to correct it. He was 3 months old October 15th, and will be going in for surgery Monday morning.
The surgery will take 3 hours. It bothers us very much that he will be asleep for so long. He has gained up to probably 15 lbs, so he's much bigger than he had to be before the operation. But he's still a very small baby.
This kind of surgery has really gotten much better over the years. I've seen children who has had cleft lips that you could never tell that they had it after the surgery. I think lots of it has to do with the surgeon, as well. His surgeon is said to be the best on in the Children's Hospital where he will be.
Do you know anyone who has had a child or grandchild to undergo this type of surgery? My husband's nephew's first granddaughter had this surgery plus a cleft palette about 7 years ago. She was in much worse shape, yet, you would never know she had it unless you had seen her as a baby. There is absolutely no scar that shows. We are praying our grandson comes through the surgery just as well.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@jands1 (835)
• United States
19 Oct 08
While I don't know of anyone that has a child or grandchild in the last few years with this situation. I do know of others.
My friend Paul had this surgery. He is 26 now and you can't even tell unless he forgets to shave. But my constant nagging...er...coaxing has him shaving more than once a week now.
The most famous person I can think of that had this condition, his scar does show. It's Joaquin Phoenix. And he is so beyond dreamy I can't use words at this point.
If it's OK with you Barb42, I would like to add your grandson to my daily positive energy situation. (How is THAT for PCness LOL)
This like all situations in life is what you make of it and how much positivity you put into it. *hugs*
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
19 Oct 08
I've never heard of Joaquin Phoenix. But I do know some people whose scars do show. But they are older and had their surgery before they learned just how to operate and keep it from showing. Some still show and do have a small scar but it's usually something that can't be helped. I just pray they have enough of skin to work with in order to do the job correctly. I've seen one child this DR did and he has a scar, but this little boy has other things wrong with him other than the cleft palette. But, you know, we usually don't look at the imperfections in a person when they are sweet. I have a grandson who will be 15 in December. He has had more accidents with his face than you'd ever guess. It first started when he was about 1 year old. He was playing in their living room and he was a runner, gets excited. HE was running at his older brother on the couch, and my other grandson moved, and this one hit his forehead on the wood on the couch, splitting his right eyebrow in half. They took him to ER where they pulled it together with only a butterfly bandaid! And it would have healed with no problem. They came up here to my house that night and spent the night. Well, he got up in the middle of the night, walked straight into the dresser and split it open again! They pulled the bandaid back together, but didn't get it as straight as the ER did so he has a scar. A little boy caused him to hit a nail sticking out on a toy box in the Daycare at my daughter's work, cutting a big gash in his cheek. Then about 2 years ago, he and his younger brother were wrestling in my Den, and his brother raised his head back quickly, catching him in the upper lip, cutting a BIG gash in it. I called his Mother and she called the DR she worked with. He told her, unless it was cut through they wouldn't do anything. Well, it finally healed, and one side of his lip hangs down and that makes me angry! IF I had taken him on, they would have sewed it up and it would have been normal now. HE has smsll lips, so it really shows up.
@LilPixelle (828)
• United States
19 Oct 08
I hope he does too :) it will likely be just fine :D and he will have an awesome story to tell all his friends when he gets older :P seriously I loved telling my friends all about the heart murmer I had when I was a baby (it was gone when I was ten)
1 person likes this
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
19 Oct 08
I pray the only way he knows it was ever there is the pictures we all have taken of him. He's so young, if there is absolutely no scars, he'd never know it since it doesn't bother him.
Speaking of the heart murmur you had, I was asked during the exam with my second OB/GYN DR (first was in Air Force before my husband got out)for my first pregnancy, if I had ever been told I had a heart murmur. No, I had never been told that, and he never elaborated, so I don't know if I had or not. That was over 40 years ago. 
I've thought for years I had mitro-valve prolapse but never have been diagnosed with it, although I do have the symptoms. I just claim a healthy heart. 
I've thought for years I had mitro-valve prolapse but never have been diagnosed with it, although I do have the symptoms. I just claim a healthy heart. 1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
19 Oct 08
I know an adult that had this as a child. I did not know him as a child, and I would not have known as an adult, but his step mother told me, she was my close friend. It is certainly a better surgery now than when my neighbor had a cleft palate and lip in the 1960's. I hope and pray that all goes well.
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
20 Oct 08
Yes, the surgery has certainly gotten better. But I do know a child that was born in the late 60's that had a very successful surgery for cleft lip and cleft palette and you wouldn't know it today. The cleft palette left him with a small speech impediment but, if you didn't know he had the cleft palette, you'd not know that is what caused it. Thanks for your prayers, Garden Gerty.
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
21 Oct 08
The surgery went better than the doctor had expected, less time. He has done great, the lip was already going down yesterday when we left in the afternoon. This morning, my son says it is even looking better. The surgeon did an excellent job, too. HE slept all night last night, waking up at 6AM and taking 4 ounces of milk. He was taking another at 8:30 this morning. They are just waiting for the doctor to dismiss him and they will be bringing him home.
