When Brittany and her husband, Colby, found out they were pregnant with their first baby— a boy they’d name Wyatt—they knew he would change their lives in a profound way. But what they didn’t know yet was the impact their little boy would have on others through his talents and immense compassion.
During a routine ultrasound, it was discovered that Wyatt might have a cleft lip (an opening or split in the upper lip that doesn't close fully). To confirm the diagnosis, Brittany was referred to the IWK for an MRI.
Concerned about Wyatt’s well-being, Brittany felt anxious to hear the results, but after meeting with Dr. Bezuhly, Head of the Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at the IWK, she knew their baby would be safe, and everything would be okay.
Before Wyatt was born, they were given a lot of information about what having a cleft lip entails, the feeding challenges that might result from it, and the procedures he would need as he grew up. Having this information helped ease Brittany and Colby’s worries.
When Wyatt was born, he was fitted with a device called NAM (nasoalveolar moulding), a nonsurgical, custom-made plastic appliance that could help reshape Wyatt’s nostrils and improve his breathing. Wyatt used the device for three months to help lift his nasal passage and delayed the need for surgery until he was old enough to have surgery on his lip.
When Wyatt was three months old, he underwent surgery to further correct his cleft lip. The surgery was a success, but his parents had a new challenge to overcome as they needed to feed Wyatt through a straw that was connected to a syringe.
The healing from his surgery took nearly six weeks, and Wyatt needed to sleep with temporary Velcro arm restraints at night to keep him from removing his stitches on his lip as they healed. After the stitches were gone, he bounced back quickly. The aftercare entailed Wyatt’s parents massaging and putting pressure on the scar to avoid scar tissue developing.
In April 2023, at four years old, Wyatt received a bone graft. He had some issues with his gumline that didn’t grow properly, so they had to take bone from his hip and fill in the gap in his gumline. He spent two nights at the IWK and was placed on a strict liquid diet for the following two weeks. He also couldn’t jump and play as his hip healed.
Wyatt, now seven years old, is a happy and healthy boy. He has regular checkups with the IWK’s ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) Clinic, Cleft Palate Clinic, and Dentistry Team to make sure no aspect of Wyatt’s health is left unattended. In December 2025, he wanted to give back to the IWK. He used his passion for crafting and drawing to help others. He sold his artwork and used the proceeds to buy toys for children who had to spend the holidays at the IWK.
“I don’t know what we would’ve done without the IWK,” shares Brittany. “Our worries felt so big, but they took those away. They gave Wyatt the best care.”
To celebrate the IWK and Wyatt’s growth, every year, on May 27, the date of Wyatt’s very first surgery, his family has a “smile-versary” and celebrates how far he’s come with a smiley face cake.
