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Cranio-facial Surgery
September 12, 2007
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September is cranio-facial month. In today’s Health Matters John Biffar explains how a local doctor changes the faces and lives of children with a condition known
as cleft palate.
Pediatric Cranio-facial Surgeon Ramon Ruiz says, “Cleft-palate is a very common
birth defect. It’s a result of parts of the face that are centers that fail to fuse
during development.”
Common pre-natal tests and technology – like ultrasounds -- make early detection
of cleft palates easier. Early detection can also help parents prepare.
Mother Lisa Peck explains, “We found out when I was 8 months pregnant that she had
cleft-palate.”
Although cleft-plate is not considered to be life threatening Lisa wanted her little
girl Marissa to be able to smile back at her. So she turned to Dr. Ruiz and decided
to have her daughter undergo corrective surgery. “He educates you, he teaches you
and he puts your fears at ease.”
Lisa’s beautiful baby girl is enjoying life now more than ever-the twinkle in her
eye says just that. That twinkle-lets Dr. Ruiz knows his work was well done. “I love it! I pinch myself everyday that I do this for a living, it’s really just a
neat thing to do.”
Dr. Ruiz is actively working with families he’s helped in the past to put together
a local foundation for children with cleft-lips and palates.
Cleft palate is becoming more common -- affecting 1 in 700 children in North America.
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