Published: October 28, 2026

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

When Barrett Brown was born with a unilateral cleft lip and palate, his family knew he eventually would need specialized surgery. What they did not expect were feeding difficulties that would quickly become a serious medical concern, leading to a critical transfer to Norton Children’s in Louisville, Kentucky. Today, Barrett is growing, gaining weight and continuing his journey with the support of a multidisciplinary team that includes specialists in Louisville and providers at Norton Children’s Outpatient Center in Owensboro, Kentucky.

A prenatal diagnosis and unexpected challenges

Ana Brown learned during her 21-week anatomy scan her son would be born with a complete unilateral cleft lip and palate, a condition where the lip and palate don’t fully form in early development.

“I didn’t really know what it was,” Ana said. “And we didn’t know what a journey it would become.”

Barrett was born Feb. 4, 2026, in Owensboro, and initially went home with his family. However, during a follow-up appointment, doctors discovered he had lost 12% of his body weight. He also was unable to regulate his body temperature, prompting immediate concern.

As Barrett’s condition worsened, the Norton Children’s Hospital “Just for Kids” Transport Team flew its helicopter to Owensboro and brought him back to Louisville for specialized neonatal care. While her newborn was being airlifted, Ana and her family packed their belongings and drove 100 miles east to meet him.

“It was scary,” Ana said. “You’re making sure he made it safely and not knowing if he was going to be OK.”

Specialized feeding support in the NICU

Once he arrived at Norton Children’s Hospital, Barrett was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). His care team quickly identified feeding as one of his biggest challenges. The cleft palate was preventing Barrett from getting enough nutrition.

After first trying a feeding tube through his nose, physicians recommended placement of a gastrostomy tube, or G-tube, to help ensure Barrett received enough nutrients. David S. Foley, M.D., pediatric general surgeon with Norton Children’s Surgery, performed the procedure.

“Our priority was helping Barrett grow stronger,” Dr. Foley said. “For babies with significant feeding difficulties, a G-tube can be a valuable tool to ensure they get the nutrition they need, especially during those early months.”

After Barrett’s successful procedure and before sending him home with his family, the team trained Ana on G-tube care so she could independently manage her baby’s feedings and daily care needs at home.

Surgery and ongoing care

Once Barrett was home and steadily gained weight, the focus shifted toward treating his cleft lip. In July, Barrett returned to Norton Children’s Hospital, where Mark E. Chariker, M.D., pediatric plastic surgeon, performed surgery on his lip and nose. Following the procedure, the family noticed Barrett making progress.

His journey is still ongoing. Barrett is starting to receive neurology care to address cognitive delays and is scheduled for palate repair surgery in February 2027. At that time, he is also expected to receive ear tubes for mild hearing loss caused by fluid in his ears. An additional surgery with Dr. Chariker is expected in the future.

Ana hopes that after the next surgery Barrett will continue to develop and eventually no longer need his G-tube.

Care close to home in Owensboro

While Barrett continues to see specialists in Louisville, the family also receives important follow-up care through the Norton Children’s Outpatient Center in Owensboro. According to Ana, Barrett sees Norton Children’s Neonatology  approximately every three months to monitor his growth, development and overall progress.

For the Brown family, receiving some of that care close to home is significant.

“It makes all the difference and is so much easier for our family,” Ana said.

When they have to make the drive to Louisville, Ana also appreciates that specialists coordinate appointments on the same day, reducing travel costs and making logistics easier.

A smiling future

Today, Barrett continues to grow and reach new milestones. While Ana says some developmental delays were expected because of everything he has experienced, she describes him as a happy baby whose personality shines through every day. “He is just the sweetest kid,” she said. “He’s just a little cuddle bug.”