Riley's a home run for craniofacial patient

By Courtney Finafrock, Riley Children’s Health videographer, cfinafrock@iuhealth.org

Marie and Justin Rowland found out their son, Liam, would be born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate during their 20-week ultrasound appointment. Through the parents' hospital research, they discovered Riley Children's Health could give their baby the best outcome, and its proximity to home was an added bonus.

"So, we kind of started at Riley even before he was born," Marie Rowland said. "We were able to meet with the team a little bit, get an idea of what to expect, which was really great."

Liam Rowland was born on November 21, 2016, and had his first surgery at four months old and a second at 10-months-old.

"We haven't gone for more than a few months usually without going [to Riley] for something," his mom said. "So, we've seen speech and hearing, audiology. He had his bone graft surgery last year and then he's had a few other surgeries and minor procedures in between there."

Liam Rowland will eventually undergo bilateral jaw surgery.

"When they do the palate surgery, it stunts the growth of the top jaw," Marie Rowland explained. "In order for him to be able to talk and eat and things like that as an adult, they have to realign things."

Today, Liam Rowland is an active 9-year-old who loves playing baseball, whether with his team or at home with his little brother, Lennox.

"Liam is the primary pitcher on his team," Marie Rowland said. "For being 9, they moved him up in the league, so he's playing with 10- to 13-year-olds. He does amazing!"

Liam was named the Riley First Pitch Kid for the Indianapolis Indians game on July 25.

"I am really thankful for the Indianapolis Indians for letting me do the first pitch."

Though not the major league, the Rowlands can add Victory Field to their list of stadiums they've visited - and Liam can check off a bucket list item.

"One of our main goals is that we're going to try to go to every single stadium before I graduate high school," Liam Rowland said. "So far we've gone to the Guardians, the Reds, the Milwaukee Brewers, The White Sox and then the Rockies."