Since the heartwarming photographs of Suttop went viral, this little baby girl born with a cleft lip and palate has captured the hearts of countless people. Suttop, the five-week-old daughter of Courtney and Gavin Gardner from Texas, made her entrance into the world in mid-December. The momentous occasion was beautifully captured by photographer Shannon Morton.
Courtney, 35, expressed her regrets about not having maternity or newborn photos taken with their previous children. She knew right from the beginning that she didn’t want to miss such a significant experience with her pregnancy when they learned they were expecting Suttop.
After the photo shoot, Shannon Morton shared an adorable image of Suttop on her business’s Facebook page, where the baby was seen peacefully dozing off, adorned with a white sash and a matching flower hat.
Courtney and Gavin Gardner, who also have a three-year-old son named Asher, have been overwhelmed by the positive reaction to the precious photos of their baby girl. They were touched by the outpouring of love and support from commenters.
The Gardners were informed about Suttop’s diagnosis of a right-sided unilateral cleft lip and palate during their 20-week ultrasound. This condition led to Suttop’s remarkable journey, which was beautifully captured in Shannon Morton’s photos.
As Shannon Morton’s first post was shared on January 26, it quickly garnered over 728,000 likes and nearly 7,000 comments. The Gardners didn’t anticipate their daughter’s portrait going viral, but they were thrilled with the overwhelming positivity it received.
Cleft lip and cleft palate are congenital conditions characterized by openings or splits in the upper lip and the roof of the mouth that occur during pregnancy. These conditions can pose various challenges and require specialized care and attention.
Suttop’s viral photo has inspired her parents to share her story on their Facebook page, “My Cleft Cutie,” with the hope of providing comfort and encouragement to other parents facing similar diagnoses. Despite the initial shock and concerns, they now know that with proper care, children with cleft lip and palate can lead remarkable lives.
Suttop is scheduled for her first surgery to repair her lip in March, with a second surgery to close her palate to follow when she is closer to her first birthday. The Gardners describe their daughter as strong-willed and social, always thriving on affection, especially when her older brother Asher is around.
The outpouring of support from their online community and the care they have received at Texas Children’s Hospital has been instrumental in helping the Gardners navigate this challenging journey. They want other parents facing similar diagnoses to know that, even though things might seem scary at first, there is hope, and these children are capable of overcoming challenges with their resilience and strength.