What's Different ...

I've had some comments about the boys' surgeries relating to the fact that I didn't actually explain what they were having surgery for ... or ... what's different now that they've had surgery.  So, I thought I'd take a few minutes to share what has occurred.  

     

Hopefully, in the photos above, you can notice the lines in Jonah's face, outlined by scars related to the surgeries he has had to repair his bilateral facial cleft.  The cleft essentially went the full distance noted by the lines on either side of his mouth.  

                                 

These lines softened slightly after his mandibular jaw distraction ...

This most recent surgery was to, essentially, fill in the "gap" where the scars/lines/cleft indented his face.  Tissue from his inner thighs (the little bit of fat that could be found on his very lean body) was injected into either side of his face.  He will still require future surgeries to correct the defects to his skull but that will be at a later date.  

                             

There is definitely a difference in Jonah's appearance ... if you know what to look for.  Hopefully, you can see it the way we do.  He is pleased and we get a kick out of him as he gazes into the mirror at himself.

                                

As for Rees, he had a minor, but necessary next step completed with this most recent surgical procedure.  He will need A LOT done to eventually achieve for him a nose, but the process will be slow and the steps will be many.  The goal of this procedure was to reduce the size of his nostrils and to provide him with the basic minimal support for a nose. 

                

   

Prior to this surgery, the shape of Rees' vacant nose was very much shaped like a triangle.  In each of his photos above, it is easy to see it.  During the surgery, the doctor took cartilage from both of Rees' ears and transferred it into the area above and to the sides of his nostrils and grafted it to close off the top part of the nostrils.  The triangle-shaped appearance has softened and he now has a bit of support.  It will take a couple of weeks for the area to heal, which we are excited to see as it progresses.
  

We are really proud of how brave these boys are and we are so thankful for their resilience and strength.  Their first experience at a far-away hospital with a brand-new doctor was really very positive and that is a wonderful blessing.  We continue to learn so much about and from these two and our experiences strengthen their trust in our family bond.