Nine years ago, Sarah and Dan Harvey from Janesville were thrilled to learn they were expecting twin girls. However, their joy was tempered when a 20-week ultrasound revealed that one of the twins, Victoria, had a unilateral cleft lip and palate. Her sister Gwendolyn was unaffected.
The Harveys were referred to American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison where they met Dr. Catharine Garland, a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon at UW Health and medical director of the Cleft and Craniofacial Anomalies Clinic. “It was an uncertain time,” said Sarah Harvey. “Dr. Garland took the time to explain everything.”
Cleft lip with or without palate affects one in 700 children in the United States according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Some conditions are diagnosed during pregnancy while others are identified after birth.
The Cleft and Craniofacial Anomalies Clinic offers comprehensive care through a team of specialists including doctors, surgeons, speech experts, social workers, nutritionists, dental experts, and hearing specialists. “Facial differences can be stigmatizing,” said Garland. “People may make incorrect assumptions that there are also cognitive differences.”
Victoria was born on October 14, 2016. She required surgery and therapy soon after birth along with special support for feeding. The medical team created a mold of her gum ridges to assist in planning future treatments.
Victoria underwent two surgeries within her first year: her cleft lip and nose were repaired at six months and her cleft palate at 14 months. Both procedures were successful with minimal scarring.
“My job as a surgeon is to look at the end game,” Garland explained about the treatment process which involves multiple surgeries and therapies but ultimately leads to normal childhood experiences.
Now eight years old, Victoria has undergone four surgeries including two ear surgeries due to a high risk of infections associated with her condition. “It is scary to see your baby go off to surgery,” said Sarah Harvey. “The Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic staff are like family.”
Victoria continues annual check-ups with Dr. Garland and has another surgery scheduled for September related to her developing teeth but should complete all necessary procedures before adulthood.
Sarah Harvey expressed gratitude for how far they’ve come: “I have people who tell me ‘Wait, didn’t one of your twins have facial differences?’ The scarring is so minimal.” For Dr. Garland seeing patients thrive post-treatment is rewarding: “Seeing them living their best lives years later is why I come to work every day.”
