Chase Cory

Finding Strength, Support and a Smile That Shines

Tara and Michael of Glen Carbon, IL, were the proud parents of two boys when they learned they were expecting Baby #3. At their 20-week anatomy scan in December 2022—just before Christmas—they were told their son might have a cleft lip and a hole in his heart.

Their OBGYN referred them to the St. Louis Fetal Care Institute at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon, where they began their journey toward answers and support.

“We went down the Google rabbit hole,” said Tara. “My genetic testing had come back normal. We just needed a plan.”

At their full-day visit to the Fetal Care Institute on December 28, they met with a full team: a cardiologist, specialists for fetal imaging, and Joy Baltz, BSN, RN, Nurse Navigator with the St. Louis Cleft-Craniofacial Center.

“Joy was amazing. She answered every question and walked us through what the first year with our baby might look like,” Tara said. “She explained the possibilities of a cleft palate in addition to the cleft lip, recommended specialty bottles (like Dr. Brown’s), and even connected us to organizations like Cuddles for Cleft for extra support.”

Because Tara’s pregnancy was now considered high risk, she had regular ultrasounds and a plan to deliver at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital, in case Chase needed intensive care right after birth.

“I was fixated on a few things,” Tara recalled. “Would he be able to nurse? Would we bond? How would I explain everything to our older sons? And like many moms, I kept wondering—did I do something wrong?”

Chase was born at 39 weeks after an uncomplicated delivery—and to Tara’s relief, he latched and nursed right away. He did not have a cleft palate, and the family went home with a plan to return to Cardinal Glennon in one month to talk about corrective surgery.

That first month was full of highs and lows. Tara developed mastitis due to a notch in Chase’s gum causing friction while nursing, but she pushed through. “We were in love with him,” she said. “His smile captured us. His brothers adored him.”

One month later, they met the full cleft and craniofacial team at Cardinal Glennon, including feeding specialists, ENT, dental, and Dr. Kevin Chen, Director of the Cleft and Craniofacial Center.

“They took photos, explained the surgery, post-op care, and we scheduled the procedure for August 7, when Chase would be three months old,” Tara said.

As part of his recovery, Dr. Chen asked if Chase could be the first patient to receive 3D-printed custom nasal stents. Standard stents don’t always fit perfectly, especially in noses shaped uniquely by a cleft. But custom stents, created using 3D molds of Chase’s nasal cavity during surgery, could better preserve the shape of his nose and improve healing.

“I had been in a clinical trial myself as a child,” said Tara, who is legally blind. “So we agreed.”

Surgery day brought another emotional wave. “There was grief with the diagnosis—and now another kind,” Tara said. “We’d fallen in love with his smile, and we knew surgery would change it. Even though it was needed, it was hard.”

The surgery lasted three to four hours. Dr. Chen took nasal molds during the procedure, and Joy carefully reviewed Chase’s post-op care with the family. He went home the same day with standard stents, and Tara and Michael learned how to care for them, clean incisions, and apply scar gel and sun protection.

“The first two weeks were rough—changing, taping, cleaning, worrying we were doing it all right,” said Tara. “But at our follow-up, Dr. Chen said Chase was healing perfectly.” He then replaced the standard stents with Chase’s custom 3D-printed ones. Over the next six weeks, Chase received new molds and new stents every two weeks. Then, finally, he no longer needed them.

Today, Chase is thriving. He returns to Cardinal Glennon each July for his annual check-up with Dr. Chen—during National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month, fittingly.

“Cardinal Glennon is top tier,” Tara said. “I had my OBGYN, MFM specialist, and cleft team all within SSM Health. Dr. Chen is meticulous and compassionate. Joy and the team welcomed me as a partner. I never hesitated to call or text.”

In fact, during a recent ER visit for one of her older sons, Joy showed up just to check on Tara. “She didn’t have to do that—but she did. Who does that? Our team has gone above and beyond in every way.”

Now, Tara pays it forward. She volunteers with On Angels’ Wings, offering free photography for medically fragile children and families who have experienced loss.

“When I meet other moms facing a cleft diagnosis, I tell them to allow space for grief—but not fear,” she said. “Trust your team. Take all the photos. Each stage is part of your child’s story. I’ve been so supported, and I want to give that support back.”