Craniofacial...

Sweet Sawyer has "a mild craniofacial disorder." Perhaps you wonder what this means.

Basically, as I understand it, it means that there's something unusual about how the bones of his skull are growing together.

Our skull is made up of several separate bones. When a baby is born, the bones aren't attached. They fit together like pieces of a puzzle. As the child grows, the edges of the bony pieces--called the sutures--grow together.

Sometimes the sutures close too early. This is called craniosynostosis. When that happens, there isn't room for the brain to grow, and the brain can be damaged. But surgery can separate the sutures and give room for the skull to grow properly.

We don't always know why a particular child has craniosynostosis. Sometimes it's a mystery. Sometimes, though, it's part of a recognized condition.

Ivan has Apert syndrome (pronounced a-PEAR), which includes craniosynostosis as well as fused fingers and toes. He also has a cleft palate, and because of that he can't speak. But he can understand what is said to him, and he can walk. Ivan is two and a half years old.


It's very important that Ivan get surgery on his skull soon, before the fusion of the bones begins to damage his brain. I don't know if it is possible for him to have the surgery in his country--it might be. But how wonderful it would be if his family would find him, and come for him! How wonderful for him to have a mom by his side as he goes through the surgery!

Where is Ivan's family?

And where is Sawyer's?