Kilborn Family Portrait
Sitting quietly with the look of curiosity on his face, Gavin Kilborn turns and gives a big smile before the interview with starts with his father and mother, Matt and Christie Kilborn. This family was introduced to us by one of our valued newsletter subscribers, Anne French, who works for Starplex Cinemas.
Last month, as Anne read our article about Operation Smile, a worldwide children’s medical charity dedicated to improving the health and lives of children born with cleft lips, cleft palates, and other facial deformities, she was moved because she knows all too well what these surgeries must mean to these kids. You see, Christie is Anne’s niece, and she was born with a cleft lip and palate back in the early 70’s. At that time, Christie’s family had no known history or knowledge of the condition, but as Christie puts it, “My parents chose to love and accept me just the way I was.” When Christie was only two months old, she faced her first surgery and endured many others over the years until her last surgery in her late 20’s. This condition never stopped Christie from excelling and doing the things she desired in her life, like marry her husband, Matt.
Doctors had warned the Kilborns if they were to ever have kids together there would be a chance their child could also be born with the same condition as Christie. The Kilborns decided they would give it a try, and three months into the pregnancy they discovered they were going to have the opportunity to share their love with a little boy who fell into that small percentage of kids born with a cleft lip and palate. The news was difficult at first, but the love this family had helped them get through the rough times. On December 27, 2007, the Kilborns received their long-awaited gift after 20 plus hours of labor. Gavin is now ten months old, and he has already had three surgeries; his first at 3 months, his second at 6 months, and his third surgery at 9 months. According to his father, “He’s done great with all of them.” Gavin will follow up with his doctors in January 2009 to prepare for another surgery, but from the big, beautiful smile he expressed during our interview, this little angel has a bright future in front of him.
By partnering with PPA Charities, we never knew we would meet a local mother and child dealing with issues from having a cleft lip and palate. We have learned so much from the Kilborn family about this condition, especially how to smile in the midst of adversity! Our sincere thanks to Anne French for introducing us to this courageous family. Our prayers will be with Gavin as he prepares for more surgeries in the New Year.
For more information about Operation Smile visit www.operationsmile.org.
