Max: Cleft Lip & Palate
“I was just confused, like, why I was born with it? Well then I figured out, well, we’re all born in different ways.”
– Max, Patient
Max was born with a cleft lip and a cleft palate. He had two surgeries performed at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware by the time he was nine months old. As his mouth healed, many things became easier for him, especially eating and drinking. Years later, Max is an outgoing, healthy boy, who talks about his experiences with confidence and a bright smile.
About one or two of every 1,000 babies born in the United States each year have a cleft lip (an opening in the lip) or cleft palate (an opening in the roof of the mouth). The Cleft and Craniofacial team at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware has more than 60 years of experience and expertise in caring for children with conditions affecting the head and face.