Kids Health Matters
Topic: Craniofacial

Speak Now for Kids Week is a public platform for citizen advocates to learn, get involved and influence the outcomes of current child health policies. This year, three Gillette families met with representatives from the Minnesota Congressional Delegation to advocate for kids and Children's Hospitals.

When a baby is born with a cleft lip and palate, the craniofacial experts at Gillette can offer guidance, reassurance and exceptional care. Learn more about cleft lip and palate repair.

Marlowe Mary Madich is eager to smile, yet surprisingly stingy with her giggles. But her penchant for dancing along to “Shake Your Groove Thing” wins over just about any room pretty rapidly.

Take a moment to meet Ruth “Jo” Barta, MD, Gillette’s new fellowship-trained and board-certified pediatric craniofacial and plastic surgeon.

The human body is a miraculous makeup of coordinated and interconnected systems that, when operating properly, are a wonder to behold. But when things aren’t operating correctly, this interconnectedness can cause a whole host of complications. This issue is precisely why Gillette’s Aerodigestive Clinic was established last year.

His personal experience in speech therapy as a child helps Graham Schenck connect with patients. He's a new speech-language pathology specialist at Gillette and enjoys working with kids who have cleft lip and palate.

When Walker's parents and pediatrician became concerned about the shape of his head, their questions led to a diagnosis of craniosynostosis. Learn how a new surgical technique eliminated the need for a blood transfusion during Walker's craniosynostosis surgery.

Krista Horning, a Gillette employee for nine years, hopes she's an inspiration to the patients she helps. That's because she's been a patient at Gillette since childhood. Meet Krista and learn why she loves working at Gillette.

When Angela Hartwig, a nurse at Lakewood Health System in Staples, Minnesota, learned her baby would be born with a cleft lip and palate, she took action. Learn how Gillette made it possible for Hartwig to welcome baby Cade at the community hospital she knows and trusts.

Ava's mom was shocked to discover her baby had a cleft lip and palate. Today, 8-year-old Ava loves singing, dancing and acting. Learn how surgeries to repair her cleft lip and palate have helped build her confidence.

One of the region’s only cleft palate orthodontists, Cheryl Anderson-Cermin, D.D.S., provides hope and expertise for families facing a child's diagnosis of cleft lip and palate.

Amanda Morcomb’s twins, Teagan and Orion, were diagnosed with plagiocephaly, or flat head syndrome, at 5 months old. Learn how the Gillette CranioCap® orthosis helped successfully round the babies’ heads—and why 3D printing means babies can begin wearing their helmets sooner.