Grandparents. Aunts and uncles. Friends of the family. Newborns get many visitors. But Gianna Capaccioli’s parents were surprised by one person who came to their hospital room in the hours after their daughter’s birth - Arshad R. Muzaffar, MD, FACS, FAAP, Blessing Health’s board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon. He was referred to the family by Gianna’s board-certified pediatrician, Dr. Pierre Raad of Blessing Health.
“Dr. Muzaffar really wanted us not to panic about everything, and to know that we were in good hands with him,” said Gianna’s mother, Natasha Miller.
Gianna was born with a cleft palate.
What is a cleft palate?
The palate is the roof of the mouth. A cleft palate happens if the tissue making up that area does not join together completely during pregnancy. In Gianna’s case, she had a cleft soft palate. That is the back, non-bony, muscular part of the roof of the mouth. It is essential for talking, eating and breathing.
Complications can include difficulties feeding and with speech development, ear infections and related hearing problems, and dental issues.
The Centers for Disease Control report that about 1 in every 1,700 babies is born with cleft palate in the United States.
Surgery can reduce a child’s chances of cleft palate complications. Dr. Muzaffar received training in cleft lip and palate repair, in addition to other pediatric reconstructive surgical needs, during his fellowship at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital.
But most new parents are not prepared.
“It was a really big shock,” Natasha said of being told her daughter had a cleft palate. “A mother’s worst fear is her baby having surgery. We figured we’d have to go to St. Louis or Columbia, somewhere bigger for the care. But Dr. Muzaffar made us feel comfortable. We were very thankful we did not have to travel.”
“That was a big thing for us, to make sure she was taken care of the best she could be,” added Gianna’s father, Kyle Capaccioli.
It takes a team
In addition to his exceptional education, training, and skill, Dr. Muzaffar formed an equally talented team who join him in the care of his young patients, like Gianna. In addition to the doctor, members of the Blessing Health Craniofacial Anomalies Clinic include Darren Wittenberger, DDS, orthodontist; Gale Rice, speech-language pathologist; and Jennifer Hermann, RN, plastic surgery coordinator.
“Members of this team have been doing cleft care for many, many years,” the doctor said. “Parents and guardians want their children cared for by a team that has done this for a long time and has demonstrated excellent results.”
Gianna does her part
Dr. Muzaffar saw Gianna regularly for the first nine months of her life and was able to perform surgery to repair her palate in September 2022. At that time, Gianna also received ear tubes to reduce her risk of hearing complications from board-certified ear, nose and throat specialist, Dr. Mark Mount of Blessing Health.
“At this point, we wait for Gianna to develop enough speech for us to determine whether she will have any problems with the function of her soft palate and throat in speech,” explained Dr. Muzaffar. “Additional surgery is needed in a small percentage of patients to correct speech.”
Blessing Health Craniofacial Anomalies Clinic team members will follow Gianna, as they do all their young patients, until she has finished growing to ensure all medical needs related to her formerly cleft palate are met.
Right now, at 19 months old, Gianna is enjoying life with her mom, dad, two brothers, nine cats, four dogs and a hamster.
“She’s been doing phenomenally, clearing every hurdle in leaps and bounds,” Natasha said.
“I knew if she was going to be like me, this was just a tiny little speed bump she would get over,” Kyle concluded. “She’s like me - very hard-headed, stubborn, and strong-willed.”
Dr. Muzaffar also provides plastic and reconstructive surgery for adults. Go to blessinghealth.org/plasticsurgery for more information on all care available.