Benjamin Kidd's Medical Fund
Donation protected
Benjamin Kidd was born with unilateral microtia and atresia of his right ear . Microtia is a congenital deformity that affects the formation of the outer ear, and atresia is the absence of the ear canal. There is no known cause for this condition which is believed to impact 1 in 10,000 children in the United States each year. Due to Ben’s condition, he has complete hearing loss on his right side when not aided by his hearing device.
To ensure Ben’s single-sided hearing loss has little to no impact on his development he wears a bone conducted hearing aid (BAHA) on a softband. He is currently seeing providers from the Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education (CDHHE). These providers ensure that Ben is developing age-appropriate communication skills. They also provide strategies, such as baby sign language, to increase Ben’s chances of developing normal speech and language habits.
When Benjamin is between 5 and 7 years of age he will undergo a CT scan to get a closer look at his inner ear parts and identify the location of his facial nerve. After this scan, decisions for the future will be made based on what is best for Ben.
Possible options include:
implanting a permanent bone conducted hearing aid,
multiple surgeries to reconstruct an ear using a rib graft, or obtaining a prosthetic ear.
Currently, Ben’s providers from the CDHHE, bone conducted hearing aid system, weekly batteries, and audiology visits are out of pocket expenses to his family.
Ben's mother, Apryl, is a 2nd grade teacher at Hatfield Elementary School located in Mitchell, Indiana and his father, Kyle, is a sawyer at Indiana Cut Stone in Bedford, Indiana. Kyle has been working for Indiana Cut Stone for over 5 years. Here at Indiana Cut Stone our employees are more than employees, they are truly family. Being a small, family owned and operated business in Bedford, Indiana we help each other out when times get tough. It is our pleasure to raise funds to help out Ben and his deserving family.
Vice President, Erine Baker, will be participating in the Huracan 200 PLuS in Ben's honor, which is the ultimate off-road endurance challenge in the state of Florida. The route features over 100-miles of singletrack, many remote miles of double track forest roads and abandoned paths, and a few miles of pavement here-and-there. During the route riders cross numerous forests, The Cross Florida Greenway, two mountain bike parks and miles of some of Florida’s longest and hardest climbs. You can follow Ernie (here) in real time on February 4th, 2017 when he takes on this ultimate bike challenge.
Please help us provide the Kidd family with the gift of hearing for their child. Any donation is sincerely appreciated and will go directly to Ben's medical funds. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
To ensure Ben’s single-sided hearing loss has little to no impact on his development he wears a bone conducted hearing aid (BAHA) on a softband. He is currently seeing providers from the Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education (CDHHE). These providers ensure that Ben is developing age-appropriate communication skills. They also provide strategies, such as baby sign language, to increase Ben’s chances of developing normal speech and language habits.
When Benjamin is between 5 and 7 years of age he will undergo a CT scan to get a closer look at his inner ear parts and identify the location of his facial nerve. After this scan, decisions for the future will be made based on what is best for Ben.
Possible options include:
implanting a permanent bone conducted hearing aid,
multiple surgeries to reconstruct an ear using a rib graft, or obtaining a prosthetic ear.
Currently, Ben’s providers from the CDHHE, bone conducted hearing aid system, weekly batteries, and audiology visits are out of pocket expenses to his family.
Ben's mother, Apryl, is a 2nd grade teacher at Hatfield Elementary School located in Mitchell, Indiana and his father, Kyle, is a sawyer at Indiana Cut Stone in Bedford, Indiana. Kyle has been working for Indiana Cut Stone for over 5 years. Here at Indiana Cut Stone our employees are more than employees, they are truly family. Being a small, family owned and operated business in Bedford, Indiana we help each other out when times get tough. It is our pleasure to raise funds to help out Ben and his deserving family.
Vice President, Erine Baker, will be participating in the Huracan 200 PLuS in Ben's honor, which is the ultimate off-road endurance challenge in the state of Florida. The route features over 100-miles of singletrack, many remote miles of double track forest roads and abandoned paths, and a few miles of pavement here-and-there. During the route riders cross numerous forests, The Cross Florida Greenway, two mountain bike parks and miles of some of Florida’s longest and hardest climbs. You can follow Ernie (here) in real time on February 4th, 2017 when he takes on this ultimate bike challenge.
Please help us provide the Kidd family with the gift of hearing for their child. Any donation is sincerely appreciated and will go directly to Ben's medical funds. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Organizer and beneficiary
Indiana Cut Stone
Organizer
Bedford, IN
Kyle and Apryl Kidd
Beneficiary
