Elijah Thrives After Craniofacial Surgery for Pierre Robin Sequence at CHRISTUS Children’s
Mariah and Michael Champion were excited to welcome their second child, a boy. At her 20-week anatomy scan, Mariah’s care team noticed something concerning.
“They told me it looked like he might have a small jaw,” she recalled. “At first, they thought it could just be the ultrasound angle, but an MRI confirmed Pierre Robin sequence. That’s when we knew he would need surgery after birth.”
Thanks to the expert care provided at CHRISTUS Children’s in San Antonio, their son, Elijah, is now chompin’ at the bit when it comes to meeting all of his milestones.
High-Risk Birth Planning for Pierre Robin Sequence at CHRISTUS Children’s
Mariah, a nurse herself, had initially planned to deliver with nurse midwives. But after the diagnosis, her care continued with Dr. Florencia Molina, one of the OB-GYNs at the CHRISTUS Children’s Center for Women’s Health.
“Dr. Molina listened to my wishes and validated them,” she said. “She was kind but direct. I really appreciated that she didn’t sugarcoat anything. Her focus was always on doing what was best for Elijah’s safety, and that’s all that mattered to us.”
Knowing Elijah might need immediate intervention, a coordinated delivery plan was put in place. That plan included having specialists from otolaryngology (ENT) and neonatology on standby in case Elijah needed to be intubated immediately after birth.
But what really eased the couple’s concerns was taking a tour of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) before Elijah was born.
“That was really calming for us,” Mariah said. “As a nurse, I had floated to the NICU before. But seeing it as a mom was different. Michael and I could picture where he’d be and who would be taking care of him.”
Mariah said she will never forget the confidence of the neonatologist she met during the NICU tour.
“He told us that CHRISTUS Children’s is the best place to bring your child for neonatal care. That reassured me. I knew we were making the right decision.”
Diagnosing Pierre Robin Sequence Before Birth
Elijah Michael Raymond Champion was born on March 21, 2025, at 37 weeks via Cesarean section due to Mariah’s high blood pressure. Within an hour, he was intubated because of Pierre Robin sequence, a rare congenital birth defect characterized by an underdeveloped jaw, backward displacement of the tongue and upper airway obstruction. Elijah was born with a cleft palate, another common condition present in children with Pierre Robin sequence.
After Elijah was born, he was quickly taken to the NICU. Mariah was unable to visit him for the first 12 hours due to preeclampsia and a magnesium infusion.
Elijah’s birth was both physically and emotionally difficult for Mariah—very different from her experience when her daughter, Charlotte, 3, was born.
“It was really hard,” she admits. “With my daughter, she was placed on my chest right away. With Elijah, I didn’t get to hold him for 17 days. I was afraid we wouldn’t bond. But knowing ahead of time helped prepare me. The NICU nurses and Child Life specialists at CHRISTUS Children’s did so much to support that bond.”
The Child Life team gave Mariah and Elijah small fabric pieces to sleep with and exchange so they could learn each other’s scent.
“They also made signs to celebrate little NICU milestones and gave Charlotte a footprint card for her birthday. The team at CHRISTUS Children’s really made the most of a tough situation for our family,” Mariah said.
Craniofacial Surgery for Pierre Robin Sequence at 10 Days Old
At just 10 days old, Elijah underwent a procedure called mandibular distraction osteogenesis. Craniofacial surgeon Dr. C. Alejandra Garcia de Mitchell, director of the CHRISTUS Children’s Craniofacial & Cleft Palate Clinic, met with the family to explain the process.
“She told me, ‘I’ve done this before, I know it will work,’” Mariah said. “That gave us so much peace.”
The surgery, which lasted about three hours, involved surgically breaking Elijah’s jaw and inserting metal brackets to gradually extend it.
“They broke his jaw on both sides, placed metal brackets and used a device that would be turned each day to slowly lengthen his lower jaw,” Mariah said. “Dr. Garcia de Mitchell told me the surgery would overcorrect the lower jaw slightly and that it would settle into place.”
Following the surgery, Mariah said she could see the change almost immediately. She was impressed by the care Elijah received in the NICU.
“The nurses were amazing. They were so compassionate and always thorough with updates. They encouraged me to pump and use my milk for feedings. They found creative ways to involve me in Elijah’s care, even when I couldn’t hold him.”
Elijah was discharged from the NICU at CHRISTUS Children’s on May 5, after a 45-day stay. A month later, in early June, the brackets were removed from Elijah’s jaw.
Ongoing Care for Pierre Robin Sequence and Cleft Palate
Elijah, who will undergo cleft palate surgery closer to his first birthday, continues to receive care through the High-Risk Infant Clinic at CHRISTUS Children’s. He is gaining strength, drinking breast milk and meeting his developmental milestones with help from his care team.
Nurse practitioner Eugenia Baldizon, CPNP-PC, has been particularly encouraging.
“She told me, ‘We’re not going to set any limits for him. We’re going to let him show us what he can do.’ That meant so much.”
Mariah and Michael are both grateful for the expert care Elijah received.
“The doctors at CHRISTUS Children’s are very knowledgeable and experienced,” she said. “The nurses and staff are comforting and you know your child is in the very best hands.”
CHRISTUS Children’s provides comprehensive care for infants born with complex craniofacial conditions, including Pierre Robin sequence and cleft palate. From high-risk pregnancy planning and NICU care to advanced craniofacial surgery and long-term developmental follow-up, families receive coordinated support every step of the way.
Learn More
For more information about craniofacial surgery, visit CHRISTUS Children’s Craniofacial & Cleft Palate Clinic.
For more information about NICU services, visit CHRISTUS Children’s | NICU.
