Briana Frieri - age 8 born with a cleft lip and palate
“I heard my doctor say ‘we have a problem,’” says Karen Frieri, describing the moment when she learned that her daughter, Briana, was born with a cleft lip and palate. “I was completely caught off guard. There was no history of cleft lip and palate in my family or my husband’s family.”
Ms. Frieri was anxious about her daughter’s future and had a difficult time when Briana had her first surgery at just 3 months of age. Since then, Briana has had three additional surgeries.
The first thing people notice when they see children with a cleft lip is their appearance. If there is a cleft palate, the quality of their speech may be poor. But cleft lip and palate can also cause feeding difficulties, ear infections and hearing loss, speech and language delays, and dental problems.
"A cleft lip occurs early in pregnancy when the two halves of the lip don't fuse together completely," said David Staffenberg, MD, surgical director of the Center for Craniofacial Disorders at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, chief of Plastic Surgery at Montefiore Medical Center, and associate professor of Clinical Plastic Surgery, Neurosurgery and Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, on an episode of the TV series "Keeping Kids Healthy." "The same thing can happen in the roof of the mouth. When it doesn't fuse together, babies are born with a cleft palate."
About one in every 600 to 700 babies is born with a cleft lip and/or a cleft palate. Some children can have either a cleft lip or palate while others have both abnormalities. Doctors don't know exactly what causes the defect in many cases, but they believe that genetic and environmental factors play a role. Because of the complexity of the problem, a genetic evaluation is a key to the team's success. At the Center for Craniofacial Disorders at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Dr. Staffenberg works with Alan Shanske, MD, the geneticist who serves as the Clinical Director of the Center. Advanced techniques taught at The Children's Hospital allow better results than were previously possible.
Cleft lip or palate is a complex craniofacial condition that requires a multidisciplinary treatment approach involving many specialists. Most kids undergo one to four different surgeries to correct the defect. Those who have a severe form of cleft lip and/or palate may need many additional surgeries during their lifetime. The good news is that with appropriate treatment most kids with cleft lip and/or palate can live normal, active lives. Early evaluation is important and prenatal ultrasounds are even allowing parents the opportunity to obtain information and meet Dr. Staffenberg before the baby is born.
"Coordination is key to success," says Karen Frieri, whose daughter, Briana, was born with a cleft lip and palate. "It's imperative to work with a hospital where you can meet with the right specialists and stay on top of the surgical plan."
Briana has been receiving treatment for years at the Center for Craniofacial Disorders at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore. The right medical treatment has not only made a tremendous difference in Briana’s appearance and her life, it has also given her mother some peace of mind.
Today, Briana is a beautiful 8-year-old girl who loves to ride bikes and practice karate. Her mother says Briana's experiences have made her a stronger and more compassionate child, and both mother and daughter say that Montefiore played in huge role in helping Briana stay healthy and happy.
For more information about services available at the Center for Craniofacial Disorders at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, call 718-741-2323
Learn more:
Explore the Craniofacial Center at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore
Briana Frieri is featured on Keeping Kids Healthy, the weekly pediatric health television series
