When most newcomers are introduced to NFFR, the first thing they think of is a cleft lip or palate. Cleft palate is a condition in which the two plates of the skull that form the hard palate (roof of the mouth) are not completely joined. The soft palate is cleft as well, and in most cases, cleft lip is also present. About one in 700 live births worldwide produces a child with a cleft, making it the most common congenital facial condition.[1]

Jill and John Haggerty were living in Arizona when an ultrasound taken when Jill was twenty weeks pregnant revealed that their child would be born with a cleft palate. John was in med school at the time, and they were both raising their lovely young daughter, Daphne. When they discovered that their son, John Calvin Haggerty, would be born with a cleft palate, they were initially relieved.  As Jill recounts it, “At first we were grateful that it wasn’t anything more serious. When our doctor told us there was bad news, the worst was all we could think of.” But eventually the weight of their new reality would sink in, and the family would begin its trip to recovery.

The couple moved to Brooklyn, NY, when Jill’s pregnancy was about seven weeks before term. When the Haggerty’s informed their new obstetrician about their child’s condition, he guided them to the IRPS. There, they met Shelley Cohen, a speech and language pathologist and member of the IRPS coordinating team. They were also introduced to a team of doctors, nurses, and specialists who helped fill in the blanks and teach them about what they could expect raising a child with a cleft palate.

Although modern technology delivered the news of their son’s condition months before his birth, Jill and John began to feel relief and hope only after they were introduced to the team at the IRPS. Starting before Calvin entered the world, the IRPS has been with him every step of the way. “We were nervous wrecks before we met them,” says Jill. “They walked us through everything and told us what to expect.”

On October 25, 2010, Calvin Haggerty was born at 5 A.M. via c-section. Jill and John’s reaction to seeing Calvin was one any caring parent would have: instant joy, pride, and overwhelming love. Calvin’s cleft may have been obvious, but so was the elation of his parents who were finally ready to welcome him into the world. Soon, Calvin will start the procedures that will eventually repair his cleft. With the help of the doctors, nurses, and specialists of the IRPS, the Haggerty’s were able to handle the challenges of having a child with a cleft. As Jill characterized the assistance of the IRPS, “They gave us tips on how to feed Calvin and take care of him, and we are continually grateful for all of their work.”

[1] “Statistics by country for cleft palate”. WrongDiagnosis.com. http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/c/cleft_palate/stats-country.htm. Retrieved 2007-04-24.