A family shares their story (times two!) in honor of Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month.
The Walton family welcomed their third son earlier this year. By all accounts, Mom and Dad have their hands full – but they make time for the 2-hour drive from their home in Harrisonburg to see a special team at CHoR.
Receiving a diagnosis and seeking care
Tara and Zach Walton learned about their oldest son Hudson’s bilateral cleft lip and palate during the 20-week anatomy scan in pregnancy. The condition is common and occurs when the upper lip and roof of the mouth don’t close fully during a baby’s development. Cleft lip and palate can cause challenges with feeding, ear infections, dental development and speech, but all these things can be managed with the right medical care – often starting with surgery.
“When we began looking into surgical teams for Hudson, what stood out most was the collaborative approach to care,” explained Tara of the team at our Center for Craniofacial Care, led by Dr. Jennifer Rhodes. “Each specialty worked together to develop the best possible treatment plan for our son. We were also very impressed by and comfortable with Dr. Rhodes after our initial evaluation.”
The center is made up of physicians and other healthcare providers from 15 different specialties across CHoR to care for every medical need a child may have when born with craniofacial conditions or vascular malformations. For Hudson, the care team has included specialists from ENT, dentistry, psychology, speech pathology, audiology and craniofacial surgery. He had his cleft lip and cleft palate repair surgeries as a baby, along with additional surgeries for ear tubes and dental work. Now 6 years old, he receives speech therapy at school and sees his team at CHoR once or twice per year.
Welcoming another little one, and turning to the trusted team at CHoR
When the Waltons learned their third child, baby Hayes, also had cleft lip and palate, they knew just where to turn. At 4 months old, Hayes has now had his cleft lip repair surgery. Our team stays in close contact with the family for help with feeding as they prepare for upcoming procedures and ongoing care.
“Each specialist meets with us individually before the team comes together to compare notes and provide a comprehensive debrief,” said Tara. “The effort and coordination that go into this process give us tremendous peace of mind, knowing our sons are receiving exceptional care.”
Shared experiences, love and unlimited futures
Hudson understands that Hayes is facing many of the same experiences he has.
“He is incredibly proud to be Hayes’ big brother and often points out how much they look alike,” added Tara.
Dr. Rhodes and Jocelyn Horne, speech therapist and program coordinator at our Center for Craniofacial Care, are committed to providing personalized, comprehensive care for children with clefts, which is why families from throughout the Mid-Atlantic travel to see them – but their true barometer for success extends beyond the clinical. When families place trust in them, they’re honored to be part of their children’s care journey and watch them grow with health and happiness.
“The Waltons are loving, close and always very cheerful,” said Jocelyn. “It’s always nice to catch up on how the boys are doing, what sports they’re playing, activities they’re participating in, etc.”
“We want them to have the best childhood and get to focus on their interests with the fewest interruptions to their family’s life. Most importantly, we want them to feel good about who they are and be confident to pursue anything they want to do,” added Dr. Rhodes.
Yes, Tara and Zach’s hands are full, but so are their hearts.
“Every visit to CHoR has felt personal and heartfelt. We have the utmost confidence in Dr. Rhodes and her team and are grateful for the compassion and expertise they bring to our family’s care,” said Tara. “Our hope for our boys is that they grow up confident in themselves and never doubt how deeply they are loved.”