Matthew Roche has a rare disease called Crouzon syndrome, which causes the skull bones to fuse prematurely. This leads to craniofacial deformities including bulging eyes and dental problems. Matthew has had multiple surgeries to try and normalize his appearance. Now that he is full-grown, he is ready for a full reconstruction. This is a very challenging and complex procedure from a technical standpoint because it involves rebuilding much of the face and skull. Matthew also has a lot of scar tissue from previous procedures. Dr. Albert Woo, Chief of Pediatric Plastic Surgery and Director of the Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Institute at St. Louis Children's Hospital, performed the surgery.
