LUCY'S SURGERY
Following the annual Australian Microtia & Atresia Parent Conference in 2011 and meeting with Dr Joseph Roberson of the California Ear Institute, it was deemed that Lucy would be an excellent candidate for specialist atresia repair surgery. The surgery itself is the most challenging and technical procedure performed by otologists/Ear Nose Throat surgeons, with Dr Roberson being arguably the worlds best with excellent success and low complication rates. Dr Roberson will repair Lucy's left ear by creating (drilling) a new ear canal, lining it with a skin graft from the scalp and grafting a new ear drum from some other tissue (fascia). Lucy's right ear will also be repaired during the same operation, by widening the very narrow disfunctional canal that is there (canalplasty) and inserting a grommet to fix the chronic middle ear fluid "glue ear" that has seen Lucy's hearing deteriorate significantly in that ear. Our hope is that following this amazing surgery, Lucy will be able to hear with her own ears without the need for aids or technology, which is very exciting. It will also mean that we will be able to keep both ears healthy, with functional ear canals to look into.
To get Lucy to California and into Dr Roberson's hands, we will need to raise around $60,000 AU, with $45,000 for all the surgery costs and the rest being for accomodation, airfares etc, as we will need to be in the US for a minimum of 3 weeks. We are very much relying on the generosity of the Sunshine Coast community, to reach out and help us wherever and however they can. Please see the news and events pages for more specific information on our fundraising progress and upcoming fundraising events.
Following the annual Australian Microtia & Atresia Parent Conference in 2011 and meeting with Dr Joseph Roberson of the California Ear Institute, it was deemed that Lucy would be an excellent candidate for specialist atresia repair surgery. The surgery itself is the most challenging and technical procedure performed by otologists/Ear Nose Throat surgeons, with Dr Roberson being arguably the worlds best with excellent success and low complication rates. Dr Roberson will repair Lucy's left ear by creating (drilling) a new ear canal, lining it with a skin graft from the scalp and grafting a new ear drum from some other tissue (fascia). Lucy's right ear will also be repaired during the same operation, by widening the very narrow disfunctional canal that is there (canalplasty) and inserting a grommet to fix the chronic middle ear fluid "glue ear" that has seen Lucy's hearing deteriorate significantly in that ear. Our hope is that following this amazing surgery, Lucy will be able to hear with her own ears without the need for aids or technology, which is very exciting. It will also mean that we will be able to keep both ears healthy, with functional ear canals to look into.
To get Lucy to California and into Dr Roberson's hands, we will need to raise around $60,000 AU, with $45,000 for all the surgery costs and the rest being for accomodation, airfares etc, as we will need to be in the US for a minimum of 3 weeks. We are very much relying on the generosity of the Sunshine Coast community, to reach out and help us wherever and however they can. Please see the news and events pages for more specific information on our fundraising progress and upcoming fundraising events.