Mile 56

In early 2022, Emily and Ross Holladay were eagerly anticipating the 20-week anatomy scan of their pregnancy. However, the scan revealed that their baby, Julianna, had a bilateral cleft lip and palate—a condition where the facial structures don’t fully close during development. This unexpected news was daunting, but being from New Orleans, the Holladays were grateful to have access to specialized care at Manning Family Children’s. They were promptly referred to craniofacial pediatrician Dr. Gregory Fulton and his dedicated team, who provided comprehensive support and guidance throughout their journey.

After Julianna’s birth, feeding became a significant challenge due to her condition, leading to painful blisters in her mouth and difficulty gaining weight. The Holladays collaborated with Dr. Leslie Slowikowski, a craniofacial orthodontic specialist at Manning Family Children’s, to try nasoalveolar molding (NAM)—a nonsurgical technique aimed at reshaping the cleft and aiding in feeding. Despite multiple adjustments, NAM was ultimately unsuccessful for Julianna. Nevertheless, Dr. Slowikowski’s unwavering dedication provided the family with much-needed reassurance during this challenging time.

At four months old, Julianna underwent her first surgery to address the cleft lip, performed by Dr. Mohamad Masoumy, a specialist in craniofacial and reconstructive surgery at Manning Family Children’s. This procedure aimed to narrow the gap in her lip and align her nose more naturally. Following the surgery, Julianna began to show considerable progress—feeding became easier, and she started gaining weight and becoming more active. After a challenging first year and a half, Julianna is now catching up developmentally, and her family remains grateful for the exceptional care and continued support from Manning Family Children’s.