The second step in Jason's lip repair

On August 8th, Jason began wearing an oral appliance. It fits in the top of his mouth like a denture, creating a nasal floor. This presented an enormous but short lived challenge. The appliance changed the whole dynamic of Jason's mouth and therefore his ability to eat. It actually made it easier for him to eat, but it was a drastic change. We had two or three very, very hard feedings, but once he adapted things have been much better than before the appliance. The purpose of the appliance is to prevent further widening of the cleft as well as to create part of a three pronged lip/nasal improvement. As we tape his lip over the appliance, and as it adjusted from time to time we will begin to narrow the cleft and to line everything up as much as possible before surgery. Also, a nasal stent will be added to it, providing the means by which to form his otherwise concave right nostril.