Our cleft team visit!

Yesterday was Caleb's big day at Shands with the craniofacial team. We saw at least 9 different team members plus about 25 students/residents. It was a long and overwhelming day. But a good one!

Some of the things we learned:
  • We're in good hands at Shands- we felt very well taken care of and we are happy fo far with the information we've been given.
  • Caleb is not hearing very well but it is most likely due to the fluid build up in his ears (very common in cleft kids, and kids in general for that matter). He will get tubes during the palate surgery.
  • It doesn't look like the cleft is associated with any syndrome.
  • He has moved from indiscriminate attachment (he used to reach out to strangers often) to insecure attachment (he's still afraid we will leave him and does not want us out of sight). This is a step in the right direction.
  • He has all of the teeth he is supposed to have- this is very good news!
  • His drooling is from teething, not from the cleft.
  • He will need at least three surgeries. One now, one in a few years, and one in mid-late elementary.
  • This surgery (Dec. 6) is to repair his palate. They will close the palate using the existing tissue.
  • The palate repair will allow him to develop his speech.
  • They're actually happy he is not speaking because that means he does not have bad speech habits to break.
  • He will be in arm restraints for 4 weeks after surgery- Merry Christmas! Lord, help us!
  • We will hopefully only be in the hospital one night for this surgery.
Caleb did such a great job esepcially since he didn't get to take a nap. He was charming and mostly happy. We're excited to get this surgery done and hopefully start hearing what he has to say! Thanks for the prayers- we so appreciate them!

Comments

Christy said…
Hi, Im not sure if you check your comments, but I am wondering if your son is from Chenge SWI in Hebei. We are matched with our little one from there and we cant find any info on the swi. Is that where your son is from? Did you visit or see the SWI when you were in china? Any info you can provide me would be great!! We feel lost becuase we cant find anything and want so badly to know how our daughter is being taken care of. Do they take good care of the kids? How was your son? Also, do you have a contact persons email that I can have? I would love to get a contact, either a nanny or worker, that I can email back and forth to. Really, any info would be great!!!!

Thanks for your time!

Christy Bock
tomiawithlove.blogspot.com
October 17, 2011 at 2:27 PM
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