In their home, just biking distance from Dell Children’s Medical Center, evidence of the three young children Dr. Peter Gilbreath and his wife, Libby Chennell—Hank, Gus, and Alfie—is everywhere. There are breakfast crumbs and dishes on the counters, an open bag of water balloons, and drawings made with little hands and big imaginations. The mood is light and lively. It’s obvious that this is a family constantly on the move and enjoying every single minute of the delightful rollercoaster ride that is life with young children.

However, nearly 17 months ago, life as they’d known it came to a quick halt with Alfie’s arrival.

A Normal Pregnancy, An Unexpected Diagnosis

Libby’s third pregnancy wasn’t any different than her others — the excitement and nerves of new life were there, but so was a new level of exhaustion. Caring for two children under 5, while pregnant, is no small feat. Nevertheless, nothing seemed out of the ordinary and delivery went as expected.

However, the morning after Alfie’s arrival, Dr. Lakshmy Vaidyanathan at Ascension Seton Medical Center noticed a small ridge on the newborn’s head as she examined him. “He looked a little funny. His face was just kind of scrunched,” said Chennell remembering the examination. After a few moments, Dr. Vaidyanathan calmly explained to Dr. Gilbreath and his wife that while healthy in every other regard, their newborn boy might have craniosynostosis, a condition where the plates of a baby’s skull fuse prematurely. If left untreated, a baby’s brain will not grow to its full capacity.

In shock, the family took in the news.

“It would’ve been easy for Dr. V to quickly explain the process to Peter and move on, but she took her time with both of us. I immediately had a million questions and she was just so calm and took her time. I appreciated that so much,” said Chennell.

With so many more questions, still in shock and feeling more than overwhelmed, the couple knew that further medical consultation was necessary and luckily, they knew just where to find it.

Two Surgical Options and One Big Decision

The family quickly scheduled an appointment with a craniofacial specialist at Dell Children’s, Dr. Patrick Kelley. However, due to one of Central Texas’s now infamous severe ice storms, the consultation had to be conducted over Zoom, adding to the surreal and stressful situation. “We were holding our newborn toward the camera trying to get the best view of his head and it was all so strange,” said Chennell.

Dr. Kelley was able to confirm that Alfie did indeed have craniosynostosis and explained the condition in detail, highlighting that the fused plates in Alfie’s skull could impede brain growth, and surgery would be necessary within the first few months of his life.

He presented two surgical options: a more traditional method which involved removing a significant portion of the newborn’s skull, or a newer, less invasive technique that involves carefully cutting across the skull from ear to ear and inserting spacers to keep the plates of the skull separated as they healed.

“Dr. Kelley said we’re going to make sure that Alfie has every chance to have a healthy brain. It had never occurred to me that he wouldn’t and that’s when the gravity of the situation hit me,” said Chennell.

Despite the complexities and fears associated with both procedures, the parents chose the less invasive option and began to prepare themselves for the road to recovery ahead.

A Newborn’s Surgery, A Family Recovers

Alfie underwent surgery when he was only four months old. The operation involved placing four spacers in his skull to ensure proper growth.

The support from the medical team at Dell Children’s Medical Center was exceptional. The surgeons, including neurosurgeon Dr. Elizabeth Tyler-Kabara, and the anesthesiologists worked meticulously, minimizing blood loss and reducing the need for transfusions. Their expertise and care were evident in Alfie’s swift recovery. Minimal postoperative swelling and bruising contrasted sharply with the severe images shown to the parents during pre-op consultations.

“We were shown photos of babies who had this surgery and I just broke down in tears. These babies were puffed up and had bruises everywhere. They couldn’t open their eyes. They were black and blue. But when Alfie came out of surgery, he was lumpy and bumpy, but it was nothing like the pictures. We were so relieved and I think it speaks to the fact that the team at Dell is just so good at what they do. They did a wonderful job,” said Chennell.

Even now, over a year later, with tears in her eyes, Chennell describes moments of intense fear and anxiety when discussing the long-term implications of Alfie’s diagnosis and surgery. However, she recalls that it was the compassion and attentiveness of the nurses and doctors that helped ease the family’s worries during the baby boy’s surgery and recovery.

“It wasn’t one big thing that the nursing staff did that made the difference, but all of these little things that I’ll never forget. They would do things like bring me coffee so I didn’t have to leave Alfie’s side or they would recognize that I couldn’t move because he’d fallen asleep while nursing and they’d come arrange a blanket on us so we could rest. I was so sleep-deprived and emotionally taxed. We’d been through so much and we’re in this really hard place, but all those little things meant the world to us.”

The family’s experience at Dell Children’s Medical Center was profoundly positive, largely due to the hospital’s focus on providing comprehensive, cutting-edge care locally. Having access to this world-class treatment eliminated the need for lengthy travel, allowed the family to stay together, and most importantly, maintained some semblance of normalcy that helped them recover fully and quickly. Having their support system, including the medical staff and their community, played a crucial role in navigating this challenging time.

“I was so confident in our team’s ability and dedication that leading into the surgery, I was calm and it helped me be calm for my family. I think if we would’ve had to do this somewhere else, I would’ve been a mess. It wasn’t just that I knew the hospital and the team, it’s that it was in our city. I knew the lay of the land. Having the comfort of being able to go home made all the difference and it’s not just for my family, it’s for all families in Central Texas. Having this level of world-class cutting-edge services is huge. It’s incredible,” said Dr. Gilbreath.

Reflecting one year later

Just over a year has passed and the Gilbreath-Chennell family is settling into summer. Swimming lessons, vegetable gardening, and spending time together are the goals for the new season.

Thinking back on the past year, both parents feel as though it were just yesterday and yet, so far away. “I have the perspective of seeing a lot of families go through similar procedures or just hospitalizations and sometimes ours feels like a drop in the bucket compared to so many kids I see. There are patients that live in the hospital for months and months and months with many complications. We were just so lucky to have everything we needed right here,” said Dr. Gilbreath.

For Dr. Gilbreath’s family, and for so many other families that will need to visit Dell Children’s Medical Center this year, keeping your family intact is the goal and that’s why we will continue to strive to provide what you need here.