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.
Pakistan-born Mariam Saleem was born with Nager Syndrome, a rare and debilitating condition that affects development of the lower face, jaw and mouth. At 6 months, Mariam was treated for Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) – a heart defect caused by problems in the heart’s development.
Marcus is currently undergoing facial reanimation at 9 years old.
He was diagnosed with a brain tumour when he was 20 months old, and while the surgery successfully removed all of the tumour, the messages to his facial nerve stopped working, leaving him with a left facial palsy.
At birth, Maeve was diagnosed with severe Hydrocephalus, a neurological disorder caused by an abnormal build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles (cavities) deep within the brain.
