Meet Vallerie – Born with a bilateral cleft lip, she received her diagnosis during pregnancy and began treatment at just 14 weeks old. Over the years, Vallerie has undergone 7 surgeries, including a hip-to-face bone graft, Lefort 1 Maxilla Advancement, and septorhinoplasty – as well as over a decade of orthodontic care.
Teddy was born via a planned C-section. On day three, during a routine checkup, the paediatrician came in to examine him. My husband, Alex, jokingly commented, “Thank goodness he doesn’t have a head like mine,” as Alex was born with craniosynostosis.
There is a special bond between Professor David David AC and Sofia, one that has existed as long as she can remember. Now in her mid teens, Sofia was only seven months old when she first became a patient.
I was 6 years old when I first came to Australia from Pakistan where I was born. However, I was born with a birth defect called ‘Cleft Lip Palate’, 1 year later my father came to Australia by boat. He was a refugee and was finding it really hard to find a proper job (as he was uneducated) and to also support us back in Pakistan.
A bright and determined little girl who was diagnosed at just 4 months old. Her journey began with endoscopic surgery to remove the fused suture in her skull, followed by 9 months of helmet therapy to gently shape her head as she grew.
Reuben was born in 2022 weighing a healthy 3,960g. Reuben was delivered via planned C-section at 37 weeks due to unknown cause of acceleration of growth and maternal history of pre-eclapsia and HELLP (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzymes and Low Platelets) Syndrome.
Poppy, now 20 months old (December 2024), had a rough entrance into the world via an emergency C-section due to fetal distress. Because of this, there was a pediatrician present in the OR with us, ready to assess her when she arrived.
Months after Mum Michelle’s first-born Nash’s birth, months after instinctively knowing the shape of his head wasn’t quite right, Nash was diagnosed with Metopic Craniosynostosis. Not knowing where to turn, Michelle reached out to Craniofacial Australia for support and assistance.
Meet Orlando – Diagnosed with Sagittal Craniosynostosis at just 8 weeks old, he underwent skull surgery at 14 weeks, followed by 8 months of helmet therapy.
Milan’s craniosynostosis journey was a long road with many medical professionals, opinions and finally answers and relief! It all started in September of 2019 in the delivery room. Within an hour of his birth one of the midwives approached me and suggested I visit an Osteopath, explain the birth to them and have a good feel of his head.
