Born With a Cleft Lip, Baby Saint’s Parents Shared His Journey to Help Other Families Feel Less Alone

When Carly was 20 weeks pregnant, a routine ultrasound revealed that her unborn son had a cleft lip.

Although she and her husband, Max, already knew their baby had a genetic predisposition to the condition, receiving the diagnosis was still an emotional experience.

They worried about the challenges their little boy might face and what his medical journey would involve.

But after Saint was born, the couple made a decision: instead of hiding his facial difference, they would share his story to help other families navigating similar experiences.

A Diagnosis Before He Was Born

Saint’s cleft lip was identified during Carly’s pregnancy at Massachusetts General Hospital.

The family was referred to Dr. Eric Liao, co-director of the Cleft and Craniofacial Center, a collaboration between Shriners Children’s Boston and MassGeneral Hospital for Children.

Carly and Max met with the specialist before their son’s birth to discuss the anticipated treatment plan.

The appointment helped them better understand what cleft lip repair would involve and gave them reassurance during an uncertain period.

A Little Boy With a Distinctive Smile

When Saint arrived, his parents began documenting his early life through photographs.

His cleft was clearly visible in pictures, including photographs taken before his reconstructive operation.

Rather than keeping those images private, Carly and Max eventually shared them on social media to promote acceptance of children born with facial differences.

Their hope was that other parents might see Saint’s photographs and feel more confident about their own children’s journeys.

Major Surgery at Five Months Old

When Saint reached five months of age, Dr. Liao performed surgery to repair his lip and nose.

According to Shriners Children’s, the operation went smoothly and successfully addressed both areas.

Nevertheless, the hospital stay was emotionally exhausting for his parents.

Saint was undergoing major surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding another layer of stress to an already difficult experience.

Carly later expressed particular gratitude toward a night nurse named Tracey, who supported both Saint and his overwhelmed parents.

The Photographs That Told His Story

Following the operation, Saint’s parents continued sharing photographs of their son.

The hospital published images showing him before his cleft repair and after surgery, documenting the visible changes in his lip and nose.

By the time Shriners Children’s featured his story in October 2021, Saint was nine months old.

His medical team believed he would most likely not require additional surgery, although a more definitive assessment would come when he was approximately seven or eight years old.

Helping Other Parents Find Hope

Sharing Saint’s journey connected Carly and Max with families who had experienced similar diagnoses.

The couple received encouraging messages and discovered a supportive community of parents willing to exchange advice and personal experiences.

They hoped their son’s story would remind families that a cleft diagnosis does not define a child’s entire future.

For Saint’s parents, the photographs were about more than documenting a surgical result. They celebrated their son’s childhood while showing other families that they did not have to face the experience alone.

Source: Shriners Children’s Boston, October 19, 2021 — Saint’s Story.