The name his parents gave him was Clark Kyle Hamilton. My older brother Kyle has always loved Superman, which, as most people would know, has the alias name of "Clark Kent." I'm not sure that's why his parents named him Clark, but I think they must know Clark is going to be Superman.
1. What causes a cleft lip and palate?
--The roof of the mouth (palate) is formed between the sixth and ninth weeks of pregnancy. A cleft palate happens if the tissue that makes up the roof of the mouth does not join together completely during pregnancy. For some babies, both the front and the back parts of the palate are open. (This is what Clark has, a bilateral cleft lip and palate.)
"A cleft lip is an opening extending through the upper lip. It may be in the midline (center) or left and/or right side of the lip. A cleft palate is an opening of the hard palate (the bony front portion of the roof of the mouth) or the soft palate (the muscular non-bony region in the rear of the roof of the mouth. Similar to a cleft lip, a cleft palate may be midline and/or to either right of left side of the palate. A cleft palate may extend from the upper jawbone to the rear of the throat."
Since development of the lip and palate occur at different times during gestation, an infant may have either a cleft lip or cleft palate or clefting of both regions, Clark has a clefting in both regions.
2. How common is a cleft lip and palate?
--It is estimated that 2,560 babies are born with a cleft lip and palate each year, or 1 in 700. The website I've been reading on said that cleft palates is one of the most common birth defects in the United States. Interestingly enough, males are more likely to have clefts than females are.
3. Can they fix it?
--Yes! From what I hear, Clark will be going through surgery around 3 months, working to fix the cleft lip, not the cleft palate just yet. Successfully treating an infant with a cleft lip or palate will require a lot from Kyle and Ariel, as well as from Clark. There will be several years of multiple surgical procedures, which will most likely be effective. Cleft palate repair is a multistep series of surgeries starting around 6 to 12 months and will be finalized in the teen years when Clark has stopped growing. Repairing the palate and lip early will help the development of the other facial bones. At around 8 years old, a bone graft is performed to further support the upper jaw and aid in speech articulation. Braces are usually required and speech therapy is often used as well. Again, for more details, you'll have to ask Kyle and Ariel.
4. How do they feed him?
--He is fed by a spoon. He is able to grasp that to eat. He will eventually be able to use a bottle that has an extended nozzle so he won't need to suck on the small nipple of a regular bottle. He is eating really well thus far, which is a really good sign.
5. How was the birth?
--The birth went really well with no problem. Clark was born healthy and is already eating off a spoon. They didn't suspect him to be able to suck because of the cleft, but he has been making the sucking reflex and is doing really well. He has no further problems and is otherwise a very healthy baby. Kyle and Ariel are excited to bring him home and love him more than ever.
Clark isn't going to have an easy childhood. He will take part in more surgeries than most children will have in their lifetime. But, Kyle and Ariel are committed to providing him with a loving home and the best life they can. Superman is a hero for most people. To me, Clark is going to be my hero. He may not be able to fly or have laser vision, but he's going to be a trooper. I'm sure his parents feel the same. Nothing will stop us from loving this small child. In our eyes, he is perfect and beautiful. And thanks to modern technology, people will hardly notice that he was formed a little bit differently. Many people may sympathize with Ariel and Kyle, but I don't think they would change one bit of him. He is perfect just the way he is. And I can't wait to meet him. We love you Clark!