This blog post is a little rambled, sorry in advance!
I have had to pray a lot over the last few months! I am saying that because I have recently relized that I have formed a new tough skin for my daughter. Anyone who has a child that has something "different" about them I am sure feels the same way. People stare at your child and don't just ask a question. People whose kids say something tell their kids, shhh don't say anything. My daughter is a sweet human child! Please people, ASK! Working at a childrens hospital has taught me so much, but having a child with a "difference" has taught me so much more! It has taught me empathy like I have never known before.
It has been a tough few months because I have had to learn how to accept things. There were so many people I knew having babies. They were all "normal" babies. People would be doing simple things like nursing their babies and my heart would cry on the inside. I would be at church or other places with lots of new mommies with babies and people always would say how beautiful the other babies were and just say, oh sweet baby about my daughter. Again my heart would cry. I know how beautiful my daughter is, I wish others would see it too! I was sick of "explaining" my daughter to everyone I meet instead of just saying this is my daughter Lily.
I have had thoughts of, Why God? Why can't I just have normalcy? Then I am reminded that this is my normalcy. This is what God knew we could handle. God gave us this beautiful little girl and he trusts that we will raise her to be a woman of virtue. A girl/woman who knows how beautiful she is inside and out. My prayer for her is that she seeks God as her number one! That she knows everything "normal". That she does dance and plays dress up like other little girls. I know she will and that is more than some parents can say, so for that I am ever so greatful! She is such an amazing girl and her personality so far is so very amazing. I know that God gave her this personality to overcome any difficulties she incurrs in life. She will have this tough skin too, I know it. This will make her the woman she will become.
Lily, when you read this someday I want you to know:
-Your Creator made you this way for a purpose God says you are Fearfully and Wonderfully made! And you are!
-Your family loves you unconditionally.
-You will meet people who don't understand things about you, but that happens to everyone for one reason or another. Your Mom was the "chubby kid" in school. Your Dad had some pretty thick glasses in school. Sometimes people say hurtful things but you will overcome it.
-Your brother has always been so proud to be your big brother! Everyone he meets he introduces you to them. He says this is my beautiful (yes he uses that word everytime!) sister Lily. She has a cleft lip. I am her big brother. It truely is the sweetest thing!
We Love our children and hope others see how beautiful they are too. I am sure that every parent feels this way and that is why my "empathy" has changed more than ever!
Thursday, September 13, 2012
NAM Journey
I have had so many people ask about what the NAM is. Well I am going to tell everyone now.
What is Nasoalveolar Molding?
Nasoalveolar molding (NAM) is a non-surgical treatment for shaping the gums, lip and nostrils before cleft lip and palate surgery. The goal of NAM is to reduce the severity of the cleft before surgical repair by the plastic surgeon. Surgery is performed after the molding is finished, approximately three to six months after birth.
NAM is used mainly for children with large clefts or deformity of the nostrils. In the past, fixing a large cleft required multiple surgeries. The first procedure pulled the lip together, a second improved the position of the lip, another two would be for the nose, then another would close the palate, and so on. NAM allows the orthodontist and surgeon to improve a large cleft in the months before surgery. A smaller cleft can help the surgeon obtain improved shape of the nose and a thinner scar in only one surgery. A better result in the first surgery, means fewer surgeries later in childhood.
How does NAM work?
NAM is accomplished with an orthodontist. Your child will be fitted with a custom-made molding plate that looks like an orthodontic retainer. The device is attached with small orthodontic rubber bands that are taped to the baby’s face.
The molding plate causes no pain and after the first few days the plate usually doesn’t bother babies at all; it’s an accepted part of their face. The molding plate helps gently direct the growth of the gums. The baby wears the molding plate 24 hours per day, seven days a week, including during feeding. Parents change the tape and clean the molding plate daily as needed.
The orthodontist gently adjusts the shape of the molding plate every one to two weeks, sculpting the plastic. Each adjustment is very small, but it starts to guide the baby’s gums and nose as they are growing. Each appointment takes about 60 minutes. After the cleft is small enough, a post is attached to the molding plate and placed in the nostril. This post is then gently adjusted to lift up the nose and open the nostril.
By the time of surgery, the nose has been lifted and narrowed, the gap in the gums is smaller, and the lips are closer together. A smaller gap means less tension when the surgeon closes the cleft.
This information was taken from our Orthodontist, Dr. Dustin Burleson. Yes, Lily sees an Orthodontist already! LOL. We started the NAM process when she was 6 weeks old. We decided to do NAM for shapment of her nostrils and stretching of her nose to give her a point instead of a mushroom nose. This treatment is not for everyone! It is very expensive (treatment not covered by insurance) and we have weekly appointments with the orthodontist where he adjusts the NAM. Not to mention all the taping and constant cleaning. We feel like this is something we can do to help her have the very best outcome and so far our Orthodontist and Plastic Surgeon are VERY hapy with the results. And we still have 6 weeks left before surgery. I will attatch a few photos. Please ask any questions about our process. I love to try and answer questions!
You can see in the first two pictures what she looked like pre-NAM and in the last picture you can see how much more her nostrils have opened and the middle piece called the premaxilla is pushed a lot further back. We are pleased with the results so far and both the Plastic Surgeon and Orthodontist have said she has responded better than they have ever seen! Praise the Lord. This is something we have prayed for as well and I tell you what, God has answered EVERY one of my prayers for my daughter! Thank you LORD!
What is Nasoalveolar Molding?
Nasoalveolar molding (NAM) is a non-surgical treatment for shaping the gums, lip and nostrils before cleft lip and palate surgery. The goal of NAM is to reduce the severity of the cleft before surgical repair by the plastic surgeon. Surgery is performed after the molding is finished, approximately three to six months after birth.
NAM is used mainly for children with large clefts or deformity of the nostrils. In the past, fixing a large cleft required multiple surgeries. The first procedure pulled the lip together, a second improved the position of the lip, another two would be for the nose, then another would close the palate, and so on. NAM allows the orthodontist and surgeon to improve a large cleft in the months before surgery. A smaller cleft can help the surgeon obtain improved shape of the nose and a thinner scar in only one surgery. A better result in the first surgery, means fewer surgeries later in childhood.
How does NAM work?
NAM is accomplished with an orthodontist. Your child will be fitted with a custom-made molding plate that looks like an orthodontic retainer. The device is attached with small orthodontic rubber bands that are taped to the baby’s face.
The molding plate causes no pain and after the first few days the plate usually doesn’t bother babies at all; it’s an accepted part of their face. The molding plate helps gently direct the growth of the gums. The baby wears the molding plate 24 hours per day, seven days a week, including during feeding. Parents change the tape and clean the molding plate daily as needed.
The orthodontist gently adjusts the shape of the molding plate every one to two weeks, sculpting the plastic. Each adjustment is very small, but it starts to guide the baby’s gums and nose as they are growing. Each appointment takes about 60 minutes. After the cleft is small enough, a post is attached to the molding plate and placed in the nostril. This post is then gently adjusted to lift up the nose and open the nostril.
By the time of surgery, the nose has been lifted and narrowed, the gap in the gums is smaller, and the lips are closer together. A smaller gap means less tension when the surgeon closes the cleft.
This information was taken from our Orthodontist, Dr. Dustin Burleson. Yes, Lily sees an Orthodontist already! LOL. We started the NAM process when she was 6 weeks old. We decided to do NAM for shapment of her nostrils and stretching of her nose to give her a point instead of a mushroom nose. This treatment is not for everyone! It is very expensive (treatment not covered by insurance) and we have weekly appointments with the orthodontist where he adjusts the NAM. Not to mention all the taping and constant cleaning. We feel like this is something we can do to help her have the very best outcome and so far our Orthodontist and Plastic Surgeon are VERY hapy with the results. And we still have 6 weeks left before surgery. I will attatch a few photos. Please ask any questions about our process. I love to try and answer questions!
You can see in the first two pictures what she looked like pre-NAM and in the last picture you can see how much more her nostrils have opened and the middle piece called the premaxilla is pushed a lot further back. We are pleased with the results so far and both the Plastic Surgeon and Orthodontist have said she has responded better than they have ever seen! Praise the Lord. This is something we have prayed for as well and I tell you what, God has answered EVERY one of my prayers for my daughter! Thank you LORD!
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