Rhett Harmon was just a few months old when he was diagnosed with a condition that was causing the bones in his skull to fuse together too early. The problem, called craniosynostosis, made his head look narrow and misshapen. Without correction, it could cause developmental delays because his brain wouldn’t have the room it needed during its first years of rapid growth. Knowing their baby needed surgery was frightening, so Rhett’s parents, Cassie and Layne Harmon, did their homework. They researched all their options and checked out the best doctors, not just in the western part of the state where they lived, but everywhere. Even though the Craniofacial Center at CHKD was a four-hour drive from their home in Covington, Va., they scheduled an appointment with Dr. Jesus Inciong, a renowned pediatric plastic surgeon and director of the center. “When I met him, I knew he was the doctor for Rhett,” says Cassie. “The two of them immediately had a bond. When we left Dr. Inciong’s office, I had a whole new perspective. He made us feel so at ease with the diagnosis and the knowledge of what CHKD could do to fix it. His bedside manner is something all doctors should have.” The craniofacial team sees 800 patients and performs 200 surgical procedures a year to correct craniofacial abnormalities. The center’s multidisciplinary team includes plastic and oral maxillofacial surgeons, ENT surgeons, neurosurgeons, a medical geneticist, counselors, speech therapists, and others to tailor care to each patient’s specific needs. Rhett’s surgery was scheduled for March of last year. The couple was nervous that COVID-19 was circulating, but they knew the best time for Rhett to have the surgery was before he turned 1 in November, because his bones would still be soft and pliable. Four days before the surgery, however, Karen Via, RN, the Craniofacial Center coordinator, had to call Cassie and Layne. The state was halting all elective surgeries as part of its effort to contain the spread of COVID-19. There was no way to know when the surgery could be rescheduled. The Harmons unpacked their bags and called their relatives. They were disappointed, but they understood. 10
Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters
The staff at the Craniofacial Center was just one of dozens of surgical teams at CHKD who regularly touched base with anxious families during this period. Frequent appointments, many via telehealth, allowed surgeons to monitor their patients’ conditions, in case the need for an elective procedure became more urgent. In that situation, a surgery could be scheduled. Rhett’s need for surgery never became an emergency, but when the state once again allowed elective surgeries and CHKD began to reschedule missed procedures, Rhett was one of the first children on the list. His surgery was scheduled for June 5. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, only Cassie and Layne were allowed in Rhett’s room for his preparation and recovery. Outside Rhett’s window, however, stood his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, and even Rhett’s dog. The relatives hadn’t told Rhett’s parents they were coming, but the group spent four days on the hospital lawn from morning until night, dressed in purple T-shirts that said “Rhett Strong.”
“When I met him, I knew he was the doctor for Rhett. The two of them immediately had a bond.” – Cassie Harmon, Rhett’s mother, referring to Dr. Jesus Inciong, CHKD pediatric plastic surgeon and director of the Craniofacial Center at CHKD. “They were my village,” says Cassie. “I was so comforted knowing they were there. They stayed there keeping vigil through the weekend.” At a January follow-up visit, Rhett, now 1 year old, walked down the hallway of the Craniofacial Center. It was the first time Dr. Inciong had seen him walking. Rhett played peek-a-boo around the door of the exam room, and then sat smiling while Dr. Inciong examined his now shapely skull through the thick hair covering his surgical scars. Then Rhett wanted a turn examining Dr. Inciong’s head, which the doctor graciously consented to with a smile. Seeing the playful interaction between patient and doctor reaffirmed the Harmons’ decision. “His rapport with Rhett is impeccable,” says Cassie. “We came from four hours away. That’s how much Dr. Inciong means to us.”
