Case histories - Kirstie
Kirstie had a unilateral cleft of her lip and palate. Her lip was repaired at the age of 3 months and her palate at 6 months. Just before her 9th birthday she had a bone graft from her hip to her upper jaw and then she had a final operation at the age of 16. This is the minimum number of operations which we would aim for.
20 year timeline
March 1985
Kirstie as a new-born baby with a unilateral cleft of her lip and palate.
June 1985
Kirstie at 3 months old before her operation to repair her cleft lip
September 1985
Kirstie at 6 months old after the operation to repair her palate
May 1994
Kirstie aged 8 years old after her bone graft operation to replace the missing part of her gum caused by the cleft with a piece of hip bone. She makes a beautiful bridesmaid.
2001
Kirstie at 16 years old. She has since trained to be a dental hygienist and dental therapist.