We have been super busy these last two weeks preparing for back to school and fitting in some fun!
Yesterday we visited the cleft team at All Children's in Tampa. We really liked the team. The plastic surgeon spent almost an hour with us talking about his plan, answering our questions, and showing us patient photos. We plan to use his team of drs. And hope to schedule Chloe's first procedure ASAP. The plan will be for Chloe to first have an impression made for a Latham device which will begin to close the palate prior to surgery. Once the device is made she will have the Latham put in under anesthesia and will stay in the hospital a night. Once she is drinking successfully we will bring her home for 2-3 weeks. During this time Nick and I will tighten the device ourselves (tears:() to prevent daily trips to Tampa. Once the device has done its job, Chloe will have her third procedure/surgery to fix her lip and nose. There is a small possibility the surgeon may repair the palate at the same time. However, it is unlikely due to possible inflammation/infection associated with removal of the device. If the palate isn't repaired with the lip, we will have her palate repaired 3-4 months later. In addition, with one of the surgeries she will have PE tubes inserted. All of the procedures/surgeries will take place at All Children's in St. Pete. It's going to be a tough 6 months, but we feel pretty confident she may not need further surgeries. Although there is a possibility she will still require a bone graft later before her adult teeth come in.
I have to admit, I am a little sad at the thought of changing her smile, nose, mouth...we love her sooo much just the way she is!! The before and after photos we have seen of children show such a difference in appearance. I love Chloe's clefty smile!! Going to miss it very much!
We had our family photos taken this week by a super sweet and talented friend. I am so thankful we have such awesome images of our beautiful girl now. I will forever cherish these photos...our first as a family and our last with our clefty beauty!
So five weeks at home, hard to believe!? Feels like we have had Chloe forever and at the same time everything is new! The next few weeks are sure to be busy as my first baby boy starts kindergarten and my second baby boy starts a new school year in 3's class. And Miss Chloe will begin her treatment plan...so much to do. Lord, please help me to do it all with little stress and lots of love:) xoxo
I will miss her clefty smile too!! But, she will be the same Chloe and it will better her life in so many ways to have these surgeries. So happy she has a family to love her and comfort her through all of this. We will be keeping all of you in our prayers through all of this. She is lucky to have such a strong mama!!
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