Born in China with a severe cleft lip and palate, Nikki was adopted into a loving family here in the U.S. Little did she know, there was a second family waiting: Nikki's new ‘family' at Shriners Hospitals for Children®. We were waiting to give Nikki a brand new smile... and what a wonderful smile it turned out to be!

During the summer of 1996 in China, a baby girl was born with a cleft lip and palate.

Meanwhile - some 6,000 miles away in Illinois - Al and Janet Gozzola were submitting adoption papers.

Nearly a full year passed before the call came that would connect these three lives forever.

"We left immediately for the [adoption] center," Janet says. "As soon as we arrived, we were shown pictures of our beautiful new daughter and quickly realized that she was born with a severe cleft lip and palate."

The Gozzolas knew there was a chance their baby might have a facial cleft. That was because they made clear on their application they had no problem accepting a child with this type of birth condition - one which is among the most common. (More about cleft lip and palate.)

The advance notice gave Janet time to research care options before traveling to China to get Nikki. She looked into many of the hospitals that perform cleft lip and palate surgeries. But after speaking with Mary O'Gara, director of the cleft/craniofacial program at Shriners Hospitals for Children® - Chicago, Janet's mind was made up.

Shriners Hospitals for Children® provided the best medical treatment plan for their daughter for a number of reasons.

"Nikki was already over one year of age and had not had any corrective procedures done yet," Janet explains. "The multi-disciplinary approach of the cleft/craniofacial team outlined exactly what to do and they got to work immediately preparing her for the first surgery."

Typically, babies born with cleft lip and palate undergo repair surgery when they are between two and four months old. And many will need eight or more operations - surgeries that must be precisely timed as they grow - right up through the age of 18.

So upon returning from China with their new baby girl, the Gozzolas' journey continued, with the cleft/craniofacial team at Shriners Hospitals for Children® - Chicago. They hoped Nikki would quickly recover from her first surgery - a successful operation to repair her cleft lip and palate, and to place ear tubes. Since then she has returned every six months for check-ups, and for an alveolar bone graft to correct her gum line.

Nikki's parents also hoped she would adjust well to the changes. And has she ever!

After additional dentistry and tooth capping, Nikki now sports a full set of braces. "Her teeth are gorgeous!" says Janet. In her spare time Nikki can be found drawing, listening to music and spending time with family at their cottage in Wisconsin.

Mom Janet sums it all up, saying "I have comfort in knowing that Nikki will be cared for with compassion and respect for the remainder of our years with Shriners Hospitals for Children®. I know we chose the right hospital for Nikki."

Take a virtual, online tour of Shriners Hospitals for Children®, learn more about our work and how we help kids with cleft lip and palate, or find out how to refer a patient. You can also donate securely online to help kids like Nikki.