It wasn’t until his six-month immunisation appointment that a different GP popped in and asked us if Ollie was under the care of a Plagiocephaly specialist for his head. 

Suddenly I felt a wave of different emotions from relief of being heard to worry for the journey that may lie ahead.

Over the following 18 months in the midst of the Covid pandemic, lockdowns, face-to-face and tele-health appointments and the very premature arrival of his baby brother Charlie, Ollie continued to be monitored with the Plagiocephaly clinic at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne where he regularly underwent clinical photographs to monitor growth.

After being advised that his skull had very minimal growth over this time we were then referred to paediatric plastic surgeon Jonathan Burge in late October 2021, who then referred him for a CT scan under general anaesthetic. The CT scan clarified that his right-hand side suture line of the skull had completely fused and that there was an increasing pressure on that side of his brain which may be affecting brain development. We then had to wait for a surgery date which we were worried would be delayed because of Covid.

Ollie’s surgery was on 2nd of February. My husband Lockie, Charlie and I were able to comfort Ollie for as long as we could. Although Covid restrictions and a young baby meant that Charlie and I were unable to stay, we were very blessed that Lockie could be by his side 24/7. 

For a parent, having a child undergoing craniofacial surgery can be a traumatic and stressful time. That’s why we send care packages to families all across Australia filled with goodies to help them during their hospital stay. These care packs bring comfort and joy to families during some of their most challenging times. 

It is often the smallest acts of kindness that hold the greatest value. When Ollie was receiving treatment, we sent a care package to him filled with toys and toiletries. It is a small gesture and a reminder that Craniofacial Australia is here to support families during their craniofacial journey. 

Ohh my goodness, thankyou, thankyou so very much. Ollie has received his special care pack. How wonderful that these items are so kindly and generously donated. 

Thankyou very much.

- Rebecca, Ollie’s mum

You can bring joy to a child just like Ollie. To find out how you can support a family by funding a care pack, please call us on 08 8267 4128 or email info@acmff.org.au

More than 38 care packages have been sent to families located all over Australia in the last 12 months:

Chloe Zhao

Refined Real Estate Sales Consultant

Never would I have imagined that my son, Constantine, would be born in 2014 with a a cleft palate, resulting in difficulty breathing and hearing loss. Although now when I look back I consider what he went through almost as a rite of passage, the affect it had on myself and the family at the time caused a significant degree of worry and mental distress.

We sought as much assistance as possible in order to improve his condition and luckily we were directed to the Craniofacial Unit at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in South Australia. With the friendly and empathetic assistance of the wonderful staff and their world-renowned surgical team, we were able to work through and help Constantine's condition improve and his cleft palate and hearing loss were addressed in a timely manner. 

Due to their professional dedication, Constantine is now able to live the life of a normal healthy boy. We know that without the assistance of Craniofacial Unit, this wouldn't have been possible and we are very grateful for all that they have done for us.

This is one of the very real and personal reasons why I am proud to work at Refined Real Estate, as all of our agents make it a part of their everyday lives to donate a portion of their salary towards supporting the fantastic work of Craniofacial Australia.

It is with great pleasure that we provide you with this special research update. Professor Stan Gronthos (pictured) and his team have been awarded a grant from The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). Their research has been identified as a project that will transform health, with the innovation to improve lives. Without the seed funding provided by Craniofacial Australia, Professor Gronthos and his team may have been unable to continue their project.

With over 30 years of experience, Professor Gronthos and his team of research specialists are working towards identifying chemical inhibitors that suppress bone formation in cranial suture stem cells. This research is working towards developing a precision medicine-based approach to treat craniosynostosis in children, to replace invasive surgery.

When research discoveries are made the impact they have on society is incalculable. Millions of lives have been saved or made healthier for longer. Through medical research, Polio has almost been eradicated, prevented diseases and deformities and created vaccines that save countless lives. Good research takes time, and Craniofacial Australia values the dedication and hard work shown by the researchers we support, because we understand that the new technologies and methods that result from their discoveries will help improve the lives of people with craniofacial deformities.   

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