Gratitude Stories – Alba
World-Renowned Care Gives Alba a Smile and Hope
“We trusted him completely, right from the beginning,” recalls Phoebe Livingston, remembering the moment her newborn daughter Alba was urgently referred to Albert Woo, MD—an internationally recognized leader in cleft and craniofacial surgery, chief of pediatric plastic surgery at Hasbro Children’s, and director of its Cleft and Craniofacial Center. Dr. Woo is not only known for pioneering innovative cleft palate repair techniques that optimize speech and improve function, but also for volunteering around the globe to provide life-changing surgeries for children who otherwise would not have access to care..
That trust would prove essential for Phoebe and her husband, Sergio Lopez, because Alba’s condition was far more dangerous than it first appeared. She had Pierre Robin sequence, a rare craniofacial condition marked by an extremely small lower jaw that causes the tongue to fall backward, often blocking the airway. Like many babies with Robin sequence, Alba also had a cleft palate.
“What sounds like just a small jaw can be, in reality, a life-threatening condition,” Dr. Woo explains. “Babies with Robin sequence and cleft palate often cannot breathe safely while lying on their backs, and they struggle to feed without specialized techniques. In a newborn, this can lead to airway obstruction, choking, and malnutrition within days.”
At Hasbro Children’s, Dr. Woo and an integrated team of specialists were ready. From ENT to feeding therapists, eye doctors to speech pathologists, the coordinated team created a care plan that addressed every aspect of Alba’s condition.
Early genetic testing also revealed Stickler syndrome, a rare connective tissue disorder often associated with Pierre Robin sequence. Stickler can affect the joints, ears, and especially the eyes, increasing the risk of retinal detachment and vision loss. Alba was referred to ophthalmology immediately for ongoing monitoring, where her care team will track and respond to any emerging issues as she grows.
But in those first weeks, feeding was the greatest concern.
Because of her cleft palate, Alba was not able to drink from a regular bottle. A Pediatric Feeding specialist worked extensively with Phoebe and Sergio to teach them to use a specialized bottle and to feed Alba upright to help coordinate swallowing and breathing. Alba also needed a feeding tube for many months to supplement her nutrition, adding another layer of complexity to her care at home. “We were exhausted and so afraid we were doing it wrong,” Phoebe said. “But the nurses were amazing. They stood next to us, showed us everything, and never made us feel like we were failing.”
Dr. Woo’s team offered a solution to these challenges. He suggested a special operation to lengthen Alba’s lower jaw and open her airway and allow her to breathe and feed better. A small metal pin came out of the skin, which was manually turned slowly stretching the jaw. What was extraordinary is that, at home, Phoebe and Sergio used a tool to advance the hardware in the jaw to lengthen it millimeter by millimeter under Dr. Woo’s guidance.
“Most families do not perform these adjustments at home,” shares Julie Piotrowski, NP, Nurse Coordinator at the center, who worked with Alba’s parents. “But Phoebe and Sergio were incredible. They learned quickly, stayed calm, and never missed a step. Their dedication is a big reason Alba did so well.”
Once Alba grew strong enough, Dr. Woo repaired her cleft palate using his advanced muscle-repair technique with fine dissolvable stitches. This approach not only gave Alba the best chance at normal swallowing and speech development but also reduced the need for multiple additional surgeries that children often face with more traditional methods.
“We’ll never forget how supported we felt,” Sergio says. “We weren’t just treated like a case. Every nurse, every surgeon, every specialist cared about her like she was their own. Hasbro saved our daughter’s life and gave her a future.”
Today, you would never know that Alba was born with a life-threatening condition; and she is more than just thriving. “Alba is fun, she’s sassy, and she’s full of life,” Phoebe smiled. “After everything she’s been through, to see her spirit shine … It’s the greatest gift.”