“The View”co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin just shared a chapter of her life most people never saw. On the“Behind the Table”podcast, she revealed that her 3-month-old son, Justin Jr., underwent cranial facial surgery performed by a neurosurgeon. The procedure corrected a condition where the skull can fuse prematurely, which can cause physical and developmental issues if it goes untreated.
What led to the diagnosis was almost impossibly small. Their pediatrician noticed a slight inconsistency in his head and immediately sent the family to a specialist. Doctors told Griffin that operating at three months old made the procedure far less invasive, meaning that early catch gave her son the best possible path forward. Still, Griffin said signing off on a blood transfusion for her infant son was the scariest moment of her life, and she credited her partner and her community for carrying her through it.
The bright spot: Justin Jr. has made a full recovery and will wear a protective helmet for a year. This all comes after Griffin went through five rounds of IVF and was diagnosed with endometriosis. That helmet is a small symbol of a very big win. Have you ever had a doctor catch something small that turned out to matter? Tell us in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.