Born With a Severe Facial Difference, Megan Underwent 28 Surgeries — Then Became a Nurse to Help Others

Megan was born with severe cleft lip and palate, along with hemifacial dysplasia, a condition affecting the development of bones on one side of her face.

Her congenital differences meant that childhood would involve extensive medical care, including reconstructive operations and years of follow-up treatment.

But beyond the physical challenges, Megan faced another struggle: she had become deeply afraid of hospitals following difficult experiences during her early treatment.

A Childhood Marked by Fear

When Megan was five years old, her mother learned about Shriners Children’s Portland and decided to seek care there.

Her first operation at the hospital took place in April 2000.

By that time, previous hospital experiences had left Megan anxious about surgery and frightened of medical environments.

For a young child facing further procedures, those fears made an already complicated medical journey even harder.

A Different Approach to Preparing a Child for Surgery

At Shriners Children’s Portland, the child life team recognized that Megan needed emotional support alongside surgical treatment.

Specialists used medical play to explain the procedures she would undergo and introduced her to the equipment she might encounter.

Instead of leaving her to face an unfamiliar operating room without preparation, they helped her understand what would happen.

Over time, Megan’s fear began giving way to confidence.

The experience also helped her feel more comfortable with her appearance and the care she was receiving.

Twenty-Eight Surgeries Over Sixteen Years

Megan remained a patient at Shriners Children’s Portland for 16 years.

Her long-term treatment involved a total of 28 surgeries.

She completed her care through the hospital system in 2012.

For Megan, however, leaving the hospital as a patient did not mean ending her connection with the people who had supported her.

She wanted to give something back.

Turning Her Experience Into Children’s Books

Drawing on her creativity, Megan wrote and illustrated three children’s books.

She donated proceeds from the books to Shriners Children’s Portland, raising a total of $10,000 by the time the hospital published her story in October 2022.

Copies of her books were also placed in the hospital’s family resource library, where other young patients and their families could enjoy them.

Her work became a way to transform her own childhood experiences into encouragement for others.

From Frightened Patient to Registered Nurse

In June 2020, Megan became a registered nurse.

She had also begun volunteering for causes supporting Shriners Children’s years earlier and remained involved through its Patient Alumni Network.

The hospital she once feared had become a place she associated with care, encouragement and personal growth.

Megan’s story is not simply about the number of operations she underwent. It is about how a child born with a significant facial difference eventually found the confidence and motivation to help other people through their own medical journeys.

Source: Shriners Children’s Portland, October 24, 2022 — From Patient to Philanthropist: Megan’s Story.