Santiago's First Surgery

Even before Santiago was born, his parents knew he would require medical attention. Prenatal testing confirmed that Santiago would have a cleft lip and palate—a congenital condition that affects feeding, speech, hearing, and facial development.

Santiago’s parents made a decision that would shape the rest of their child’s life. They traveled from Guatemala to Israel so that Santiago could be born near Schneider Children's Medical Center and receive specialized care immediately.

Schneider Children's Medical Center is Israel's only stand-alone pediatric hospital, providing advanced pediatric care to children from around the world. Children just like Santiago. 

Santiago was delivered at full-term via cesarean section. Following birth, he underwent pre-surgical treatment to move the cleft segments together and shape his nose gradually. 

While performing these treatments, doctors identified additional issues: Santiago had low blood sugar and a congenital cortisol deficiency. Straight away, Santiago received a comprehensive evaluation and treatment at the hospital's Institute of Endocrinology and Diabetes. All the while, his medical team continued to prep Santiago for reconstructive surgery.

At three-and-a-half months old, Santiago underwent his first procedure. Dr. Eyal Kalish, Director of the Plastic Surgery Unit, and Dr. Dafna Shilo Yaacobi performed cleft lip repair, correction of the front portion of the palate, and primary nasal reconstruction—all in one comprehensive surgery.

Two weeks later, Santiago and his family flew home to Guatemala. In six months, they will return to Israel for a second procedure to repair the back of the palate, a step that's critical for normal speech development.

Children born with cleft lip and palate require long-term care. This includes multiple surgeries over several years, speech therapy, and ongoing monitoring. At Schneider Children's, that care is coordinated across surgical, medical, and developmental teams who work together from the child’s birth through adolescence.

For Santiago's parents, the decision to travel thousands of miles hinged on giving their son access to that kind of integrated care from the day that he was born. 

Santiago is healing well—and on his way to a full recovery.