SA mother shares painful guilt over her twin sons’ cleft palates, and the hope ahead

Kate Richardson felt “genetic guilt” when a scan showed her unborn twin sons had the same condition she was born with – requiring multiple resuscitations in their first week of life.

Kate Richardson felt painful guilt, amid the love. when a scan showed her unborn twin sons Angus and Thomas had cleft lips and palates – just as she had, decades earlier.

“When first diagnosed at the 20-week scan, my heart broke for my unborn twins,” she said.

“I held a lot of genetic guilt that I had passed the condition on. It manifested into acceptance over time and a level of calm that having the lived experience provides me with the ability to best educate and be hyper-aware of their physical and wellbeing needs.”

The identical twins are fighters – in their first week of life, they faced challenges including requiring multiple resuscitations due to sleep apnoea and feeding issues. They needed 24-hour oxygen for eight months and nasal gastric feeding for three months.

At six months, the boys had their first cleft lip surgery, with excellent results. Just before their first birthday a month ago, they underwent palate repair surgery.

Twins Angus and Thomas Richardson who were born with cleft palates. Picture: Supplied

Kate Richardson with her twin sons after their recent surgery. Picture: Supplied

Cleft lip and palate are congenital conditions where a baby’s lip or palate – roof of the mouth – doesn’t form completely.

Kate says it is likely the twins may need between seven and nine surgeries.

“It is likely their path will be similar to mine, albeit with better advancement in medical procedures and techniques,” she said.

“Dissolvable lip stitches and a reduction in the amount of lip repair surgeries is an absolute game changer.

“As a new parent it was a stressful time, but the staff at Cleft and Craniofacial SA made me feel supported and cared for.

“A highlight for the boys was when their nurses in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit and the Starlight Foundation sang to them during their recovery. The ukulele players surprisingly gifted Tom and Angus their very first wrapped birthday present! Too kind.”

In South Australia, 30 to 40 babies are born per year with a cleft lip and/or palate. Medical Unit Head of Cleft & Craniofacial SA, Dr Mark Moore, said: “Being born with a cleft lip and palate can be daunting at first, but they are treatable conditions.

“With the right team and early intervention, we can transform lives.

“Every child born with a cleft deserves access to comprehensive care. Cleft care is not a one- time surgery – it’s a journey involving surgeons, speech therapists, dentists, and most importantly, families just like Kate and her boys.”

Ms Richardson shared her story to help promote National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month.

Originally published as SA mother shares painful guilt over her twin sons’ cleft palates, and the hope ahead