In 2012, Mary and Mark went to their 20-week ultrasound expecting to find out whether they were having a boy or a girl. They left with different news: their baby had an encephalocele and an extremely rare facial cleft, and doctors warned them that he probably wouldn’t survive birth.
Dominic was born in June that year and, when he was almost six months old, was taken to Boston Children’s Hospital for complex reconstructive surgery. A team of specialists spent several hours reconstructing his face and skull, removing the encephalocele and repositioning his facial bones. The operation was a success, although he later faced complications that required several weeks in the hospital.
Almost two years after the operation, Boston Children’s Hospital reported that Dominic was doing well. His story, which took place more than a decade ago, shows how reconstructive surgery could completely change the prognosis for a child who, before birth, seemed to have little chance of survival. ❤️