A 7-month-old American girl with severe cleft palate has undergone surgery for the first time to enable her to smile, feed, and speak.

Riley Johnson, from Baltimore, Maryland, United States, was born without a complete palate; her mouth and upper lip were not fully developed in utero. 

With this deformity, females have difficulty eating and will also have difficulty articulating certain letters.

However, the little girl had surgery on her lips and the bottom of her nose last month, which caused her to giggle and utter the letter’m’ for the first time at 7 months old.

Her mother, Angela, remarked, ‘When my child completed surgery and exited the operating room, I wept because she was so beautiful and I felt so fortunate.

Before the baby’s mouth opened and her nose was detached from her mouth, it appeared that she had no apertures.

“Now that he’s settled, the baby will be able to participate in social activities and won’t face any objections; he will grow up confident and happy.” 

“The infant can completely close her mouth and appears to be very content, plus she can keep her lips closed if she does not wish to eat at the moment.”

Before, the infant’s smile was always wide and dribbling. Currently, the infant smiles frequently, whereas previously it was always wide and salivating.

Riley’s mouth injury was detected immediately after a 20-week ultrasound. 

The baby’s mother added, “I’m concerned about social prejudices that my daughter will face from other children, particularly because she looks like a boy.”

“Strangers frequently stare and lack tact when inquiring about my daughter.”

The child smiles more and is learning how to say “mom” after undergoing a seven-hour operation a month ago. 

Before, the infant was incapable of uttering anything with the letter’m’; however, she is now exercising her voice; previously, she could only shriek. 

“I was astonished when they told me the surgery would only cost $6,500,” said the baby’s mother. Such a low price was extremely uncommon.