After complaining of a headache, Charlotte underwent a long journey to be diagnosed with a condition of the skull that is usually detected at birth.

In the seventeen years of Shaikha’s life, she has spent an exceptional amount of time undergoing medical procedures. “By the age of 11, I already had 19 surgeries,” she explains. “I've had 25 surgeries in total.”

After early cranial vault remodeling at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, this teenager is a thriving student, athlete and musician.

Lilliana was born with only one ear due to hemifacial microsomia, a condition in which the tissues on one side of the face are underdeveloped. Doctors at CHOP gave Lilliana a new ear.

Elana was born with abnormalities of her skull requiring surgery. When her parents came to CHOP, ‘We knew it was going to be OK.’

Nine-year-old Ryley has remained sassy and strong while undergoing 40-plus procedures to repair her differences of the skull and face.

As an adopted toddler, Dan came from China to CHOP, where for the next 18 years the multidisciplinary cleft palate team provided peak care, including multiple surgeries.

Nora had the least common type of fused skull seam. Her CHOP surgeon had all the tools in his toolbox for the many surgical ways to treat it.

It took an incredible team effort by experts at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to separate conjoined twins and get them home to Chicago for Christmas.

An oral tumor formed before birth caused Stella’s cleft palate, but CHOP surgeons expertly corrected both conditions. Now she’s babbling away.