Anne Marie Tiernon/Eyewitness News
Indianapolis - The Theriault triplets, a brother and two sisters, share a bedroom and a genetic condition called Crouzon Syndrome.
It causes their skulls to close early as their brain keeps growing, which causes varying degrees of disfigurement.
Mother Bobbie-Jo Theriault has Crouzon.
"We are just as normal as anybody else we just have some physical features that just don't look as normal," she said.
Bobbie-Jo and her husband of nine years knew the risks of becoming parents.
"They said it is 50-50," said Bobbie-Jo. "I have always wanted to have a child. I wanted to at least experience one."
Their first child, Jayden, is now seven and in the first grade. He has Crouzon's too, and he's a protective big brother.
"I love them. I care for them and I just worry about them a lot," he said.
"We just wanted to give Jayden a sibling but we weren't expecting anything this severe," said Bobbie-Jo.
"Taylor, as you can see his head is a little pointy up here. They will probably work on that a little bit and little bit here," she said. "But Kaylin, they are very satisfied the way her head is shaped."
But it's the third born and smallest, Kaydence, who presented with a cloverleaf shaped head, creating one of the most complex Crouzon's cases in medical history.
"We are trying to do the best we can for her," said Jayden.
"We had no idea. We didn't use fertility drugs. It just happened and it was unexpected but I don't believe in abortion or anything so I believe in having the kids and I am blessed. They are my babies and we are just going to do the best we can to get by," said Bobbie-Jo.
"I just like all the babies because all of them are cute," said Jayden.
St. Vincent Pediatric Neurosurgeon Ronald Young is heading up reconstructive surgery on the triplets, starting with Kaydence.
"If we can make this child look anywhere close to normal this is a major victory with this type of case," said Dr. Young.
It's complicated by her thin skull that in many places has a swiss cheese or lattice-like pattern. Her brain has grown so fast that it's pushed beyond the skull, creating stalactite-type pattern at the back of her head.
"This is going to be a very slow meticulous and trying to avoid the complications," said Dr. Young.
Dr. Young and his plastic surgeon colleague Dr. Michael Sadove conferred with Dr. Kenneth Salyer from Dallas, world-renowned for successfully separating conjoined twins.
In preparation, the team ordered 3-D models of Kaydence's skull and also one that shows her major vessels in her brain, getting one last look before surgery.
"Unfortunately as we just talked to Kaydence's mother, having her expire because of loss of blood is a very real concern," said Dr. Sadove.
"Without surgery, Kaydey probably would not survive. She would have too much pressure on her brain and she would have brain damage and ultimately possibly death," said Dr. Salyer.
Soon it's time to carry Kaydence to the operating room.
"We hope and pray that she ends up as a normal child. Our vision is that she cognitively has the opportunity to lead a normal life, and I think every single child brought into the world deserves the opportunity to lead a normal life," said Dr. Salyer.
Bobbie Joe prepares for a day in the waiting room.
"Very nervous," said Bobbie-Jo, while a nurse assured her that her daughter was in great hands. "I have faith. She is a strong girl. She is a fighter.'
The babies are patient most of the day. In the OR, Dr. Young cuts bone apart on the sides and top of her head. They start with the tricky backside.
"That was the hard part because as you saw in the CT there are parts of the bone that were sticking way in and had these deep grooves and I had to go and take some of the bone out," said Dr. Young.
The surgery went well, with the surgeons finishing up early.
"All the things we worried about didn't come to pass," said Dr. Young.
"I'm just glad that she is okay," said Jason Theriault, her father.
"She will look quite a bit different," said Dr. Young. "Her head is still going to be somewhat wide. It won't be nearly as tall as it was but there is going to be a significant difference now."
In recovery, while swollen and still bandaged, Jason and Bobbie-Jo already see a new shape.
"She is my daughter. I adore her," said Jason."You put your trust in God and go from there."
If you would like to help the family, there is a Theriault Triplet Fund at any Fifth Third Bank branch.
