Science shows that approximately 1 in 2000 people are born with a rare genetic condition. This fact highlights the incredible diversity and complexity of human biology.
This story once again demonstrates that the support of our loved ones is truly important. Courtney and Gavin, parents of a special needs daughter, share their inspiring experience with many people on their social media platforms about what it’s like to have a baby with a cleft lip to help other families going through the same thing.
Courtney and Gavin Gardner welcome their daughter, Sutton, who was born with a cleft lip. The mother is concerned about the health of her second child and spends the entire night after Sutton’s birth worrying and praying for everything to be okay. In the 20th week of her pregnancy, the doctor performs an ultrasound, which reveals that the baby has the so-called cleft lip. When Gardner receives the news, she is truly startled.
“The last part they did was the ultrasound on her face, and then the specialist said, ‘Oh, she really has a cleft lip.’ This could happen,” says Courtney.
Cleft lip and cleft palate are very rare conditions that affect 1 in every 1600 babies and occur when a baby’s lips or mouth do not develop normally during pregnancy. This can be caused by various factors, such as the mother’s diet or medications she took, but it can also be a type of genetic predisposition.
After the Gardners welcomed their first child, they regretted not having a special baby photoshoot with him. When Courtney became pregnant again, she knew she wanted to capture every moment of their newborn daughter. Photographer Shannon Morton takes the photos, which the parents then share on social media. One of the photos quickly gained popularity and received over 10,000 likes within hours. In the following days, the number of likes skyrocketed to an impressive 750,000.
Courtney says that all the comments about her daughter have been kind and encouraging, and most people remark on how beautiful she is. The post has inspired many people to share their own stories and photos. The Gardners are motivated to create their own Facebook page, My Cleft Cutie, to help other parents going through a similar diagnosis with their children. “My little princess was born with a bilateral cleft. Fortunately, her palate was intact. Dad and I assure her every day that she is the most beautiful girl in the world and that her personality is amazing,” commented a mother on the Facebook post.
The parents are concerned about their daughter’s health but also very grateful for the hospital, which is immensely helping them during this incredible journey. Sutton’s cleft palate made bottle feeding a real challenge, and she spent the first 18 days of her life in the neonatal intensive care unit. The girl is expected to undergo the first of a series of surgeries in a matter of days, with the next one scheduled when she turns one year old. Specialists insist that intensive work with a speech therapist will be necessary.
“While things may seem scary and daunting in this early period for little Sutton, this is actually a condition that is 100% treatable and manageable,” says Courtney. Her parents describe her as very sociable, lively, smiling, and genuinely happy, especially when her older brother is by her side. And they hope that one day this story will be just a memory from the past.
