When families first reach out to Little Baby Face Foundation, they often have a lot of questions. Who will we meet? What happens next? Who will help us through the process?
The answer is simple: you won't be navigating this journey alone.
While reconstructive surgery is at the heart of what we do, it takes an entire team working together to support each child and family we serve. From the first application to follow-up care after returning home, we're here to provide guidance, answer questions, coordinate care, and help families feel confident about every step ahead.
Over the years, we've learned that some of the most meaningful support happens outside the operating room. It's the phone call that eases a parent's concerns. It's having someone explain what to expect before a consultation. It's knowing there's a team ready to help when questions come up during recovery.
Behind every child's journey is a team working together to provide support, coordination, and care. Here's what that experience looks like for the families we serve.
Our Team Approach to Care
From our experience, families often arrive with a lot on their minds. They're traveling away from home, meeting new people, and trying to understand what the days ahead will look like for their child.
That's why we work as a team.
No single person handles a family's journey alone. From scheduling appointments and coordinating travel to consultations, surgery, and follow-up care, our team works together to make sure families always know who to turn to and what to expect next.
Every child who comes to LBFF has a unique story, and every care plan reflects that. Along the way, we're here to answer questions, provide guidance, and help families feel supported through each stage of the process.
Every member of our team plays an important role in helping children with a facial abnormality receive the care they need while giving families the confidence and support they deserve.
The First People Families Connect With
For many families, one of the first people they'll speak with is Diane Romo, our Surgical Coordinator.
If you've ever planned a medical appointment, you know there can be a lot of moving pieces. For families traveling to receive care, that can feel even more overwhelming. Diane helps bring all of those pieces together.
She works closely with families on scheduling, paperwork, travel arrangements, consultation preparation, and post-operative planning. More importantly, she's often the person families turn to when they have questions or simply need reassurance about what comes next.
When families arrive, they meet with Diane and Dr. Romo to begin the evaluation process and review the schedule for their visit. From there, Diane helps coordinate the details so families can focus on what matters most—their child.
Over the years, she's helped countless families navigate their LBFF journey, serving as a trusted resource from arrival through follow-up care.
The Specialists Behind the Care
Every child who comes to LBFF has their own story, needs, and goals. That's why one of the first steps in the process is helping families connect with the right specialists for their child's situation.
Depending on the case, families may meet with one physician or several members of our medical team during their visit. These consultations help us better understand each child's needs and determine the next steps in their care.
If surgery is being considered, our physicians review medical history, prior testing, and any additional evaluations that may be needed before moving forward. In some cases, further testing may be arranged while the family is in New York.
What families often appreciate most is knowing that their care isn't being planned by one person alone. Our medical team works together to review each case carefully and make recommendations based on the child's individual needs.
For children living with a facial abnormality, this collaborative approach helps ensure families receive thoughtful guidance, clear communication, and support throughout the journey.
Connecting Families with Additional Specialists
Every child's needs are different, which means no two care journeys look exactly the same.
In some cases, a child may benefit from support beyond surgery. When that happens, we help connect families with specialists in areas such as hearing, speech, dental care, orthodontics, or other services that may be relevant to their child's needs.
These referrals are made on a case-by-case basis and are based on recommendations from our medical team. Not every child will need additional specialists, but when they do, we're here to help families understand their options and coordinate the next steps.
Our goal is always to make sure families have access to the resources and support they need throughout their child's care journey.
What Families Can Expect
Consultation and Evaluation
When families arrive, one of the first things we do is sit down together and talk about the days ahead.
During this initial visit, families meet with Dr. Romo and Diane Romo to review their schedule, discuss their child's needs, and ask any questions they may have. It's also an opportunity for us to get to know each child and better understand their situation.
Families will meet with the treating surgeon or specialist for consultation and planning. Depending on the child's needs, additional testing or medical clearance may be required before surgery. If so, our team helps coordinate those evaluations and reviews any necessary documentation before moving forward.
We know there can be a lot of information to take in during those first few days, so we do our best to make sure families feel informed, prepared, and supported from the very beginning.
Surgery Day
When families arrive, one of the first things we do is sit down together and talk about the days ahead.
During this initial visit, families meet with Dr. Romo and Diane Romo to review their schedule, discuss their child's needs, and ask any questions they may have. It's also an opportunity for us to get to know each child and better understand their situation.
Families will meet with the treating surgeon or specialist for consultation and planning. Depending on the child's needs, additional testing or medical clearance may be required before surgery. If so, our team helps coordinate those evaluations and reviews any necessary documentation before moving forward.
We know there can be a lot of information to take in during those first few days, so we do our best to make sure families feel informed, prepared, and supported from the very beginning.
Throughout the day, our focus is on providing compassionate care and keeping families informed as their child moves through surgery and recovery.
Preparing for your trip? Check out our blog, What to Pack for Your Child's Surgery Day, for a simple packing checklist.
Recovery and Post-Operative Care
Surgery may be over, but our work with families doesn't end there.
Following surgery, families remain in New York for follow-up appointments and recovery before returning home. During this time, children are monitored closely, and families have the opportunity to ask questions and receive guidance from their care team.
Most children have post-operative appointments with their surgeon within the first few days after surgery. Depending on the procedure, additional visits may be needed as healing progresses.
Before leaving New York, every family meets with Dr. Romo and Diane Romo for a final visit. Together, they review next steps, answer any remaining questions, and help families feel prepared for the transition home.
Follow-Up Care at Home
Returning home doesn't mean the journey is over.
Before families leave New York, we make sure they have the medications, wound care supplies, and written instructions they need to support their child's recovery. We also talk through what to expect during the healing process and what signs families should be watching for once they're home.
During the first year after surgery, families send photographs to LBFF so we can monitor their child's progress. When needed, video consultations may also be scheduled to answer questions and provide additional support.
We've found that this continued connection gives families peace of mind, knowing they still have a team they can reach out to even after they've returned home.
More Than a Medical Team
At LBFF, we believe that successful care is built on relationships, trust, and compassion.
Our patient coordinators, physicians, specialists, and support team all work together with one shared goal: helping children with a facial abnormality access life-changing care while ensuring their families feel supported throughout the journey.
From the first application to long-term follow-up, we are honored to walk alongside every family we serve.
If you would like to learn more about our program, we encourage you to complete our confidential online application. Our medical team will review eligibility and help determine the next steps for your family.
More Than a Medical Team
One thing we've learned over the years is that families need more than medical care alone. They need people they can turn to for answers, guidance, and support throughout the journey.
That's why our work doesn't stop with consultations, surgery, or follow-up appointments. From the moment a family applies to LBFF, our goal is to make sure they feel informed, supported, and cared for every step of the way.
Whether it's coordinating travel, answering questions before a procedure, checking in during recovery, or helping families navigate next steps, every member of our team plays a role in making that experience possible.
If you'd like to see the impact this work has made over the past year, we invite you to read The Year So Far and learn more about the children, families, and milestones that have shaped our journey together.
If your child has a facial abnormality and you'd like to learn more about our program, we encourage you to complete our confidential online application. Our medical team will review eligibility and help determine the next steps for your family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will my family meet during our visit to the medical facility?
When families arrive, they meet with Dr. Romo and Diane Romo to begin the evaluation process and review the schedule for their visit. Depending on a child's needs, families may also meet with one or more specialists as part of their consultation and care planning.
Will we only work with a surgeon during our visit?
No. While surgery may be an important part of a child's care, families are supported by a team throughout the process. This includes patient coordination, consultations, follow-up care, and, when needed, referrals to additional specialists. Our goal is to make sure families feel informed and supported every step of the way.
How long will families stay in New York after surgery?
After surgery, families remain in New York for follow-up care before returning home. The length of the stay depends on the child's needs and treatment plan. Families meet with their surgeon for post-operative appointments and have a final visit with Dr. Romo and Diane Romo before departing.
What happens after we return home?
Our follow-up care continues after families leave New York. Families return home with recovery instructions, medications, and wound care supplies. During the first year after surgery, families send photographs to LBFF for remote monitoring, and video consultations may be scheduled when needed to provide additional guidance and support.
