Published Friday, 8 October 2021

This may have been the first time Briana met Professor, but it wasn’t mine. During my pregnancy we went for an ultrasound. There seemed to be something going on that was taking a long time – muffled voices, hushed tones. That’s when the doctor advised us that the baby in my belly had a cleft lip. We were scared. None of our friends or family had someone with the same condition, so we were treading unfamiliar water at what should have been a joyous time. I kept thinking, ‘What can we do to protect this baby?’ You know they won’t look the same as other babies. You know you are going to love this child, but what will other people think? What will their reaction be? That is the fear you experience. Sometimes you feel like you are on your own.

Professor David’s reassuring nature helped us during this time, telling us to call him if we needed anything. He helped us understand what we needed to prepare before birth, as well as explaining the surgical procedure. The support team was always there for us. Briana was born by caesarean at the North-Eastern Hospital and was the first baby born there with a cleft lip. All of the staff at the North-Eastern Hospital were brilliant. We started this journey together and we learnt together. They took her every night to feed her with the special bottles and made her formula. It was a learning curve for sure, because cleft babies have to feed differently and you can’t breastfeed. I was so worried about choking her because of the press bottle.

When we left the hospital, we felt the judgment of strangers. They would come and look at the baby and silence would follow. It's judgment you hear when people are silent. We felt like we were explaining ourselves all the time. But we got through it. She got through it. Briana had her first surgery at 3 months old, with 17 more since then. I remember how petrified I was when she was going in for her first major surgery to put her lip back together. I had tears running down my face, having to leave this little tiny baby behind. The hardest part was the waiting. Hoping she will be alright and wondering what she would look like.

When she came out of surgery her face was all swollen and had these bandages on her arms so she couldn’t touch her face. She spent two weeks in the hospital and when the swelling finally went down, I was just filled with relief. I knew he would do an amazing job, but I couldn’t thank Professor David enough! It was the first step of a long journey. 

Briana shared with me that one of the hardest things has been the bullying. Instead of playing with her, the other kids would torment her. It breaks my heart to think back on those days when she played all by herself. It’s been hard, but she has gotten through. We have been through it and it’s a waiting game, but it’s worth it. Just always talk to someone. We don’t want people to be afraid. We didn’t know of anyone else with a cleft lip, so there wasn’t anyone she could go to with the same issues. Briana always offers to be there for people who may be experiencing the same things. To help people on their journey. 

Care packs from the heart

Craniofacial Australia sends out care packs to families with children undergoing craniofacial surgery. These packs offer support and comfort to families all over Australia when they may be feeling anxious and uncertain. Whilst most of the essential items are bought at the expense of the Foundation, they also includes special items which have been handmade by members of our community.

By donating $100 you can ensure a family receives a care pack during their time of need.

We realized that in times of huge stress and uncertainty it really is the little things that count the most! 

There is something so special about knowing that there are people out there we've never met who care so much about the recovery of our little girl.

These care packages are like a warm hug of love.

- Therese, one of our care pack recipients

In August our Fundraising and Marketing Manager Simone went to speak at the Tea Tree Gardens Retirement Village Singles Group about the history of the Foundation and the work we are doing. She was greeted there by the lovely ladies of the Log Cabin Angels quilting group, who presented her with a collection of beautiful hand-made quilts for us to include in the care packs we send out to families with children undergoing surgery.

Every single one of these quilts took a great deal of time, effort and love to make, and words cannot express how happy Simone and the rest of the team was to receive them. We know that the families and kids who receive these quilts in their care packs will love and cherish them just as much as we do!

In search of a medicine-based treatment for craniosynostosis