Meet Atlas! Atlas was born with Crouzon’s syndrome, a congenital condition that affects the growth of the bones in his skull. At birth, two of the plates in his skull were fused together causing his head to be under enormous pressure. He has already had multiple surgeries. However, due to the changes in space in his head that occurred from the surgeries, Atlas developed hydrocephalus. Atlas now lives with a shunt and a feeding tube and will undergo additional surgeries in upcoming years to give his brain and his face the space it will need to allow him to live a productive life.
Today, Atlas is a vibrant boy who is in special education and he is a joy to be around. His medical challenges have affected his development, but they never stand in the way of his passion and love for this world. Due to the support of so many care professionals, Atlas is thriving.
The Atlas Training Program for CDA is dedicated to Atlas, and to all children and families who live with craniofacial abnormalities and/or other special needs. In support of inclusion, a goal of Atlas Training is to raise awareness of the many challenges children and their families must live with when faced with craniofacial abnormalities.
For more information on the Children’s Craniofacial Association, please visit their website at: https://ccakids.org/crouzon-syndrome.html