Gabby’s Gift- A New Ear for Gabby

This beautiful, free-spirited little girl is our 3 year old daughter, Gabby. She was born with unilateral microtia, which means that she has a very tiny ear on one side. We are coming to our family and friends to ask for help to be able to give Gabby a big ear.

We have always made sure to treat her the same and not draw any attention to her little ear, but as she’s getting older, she is getting more and more confused as to why other kids are pointing out her ear. We really want to give her a new ear before she is in school daily and possibly getting picked on and becoming self conscious about it. Anyone who knows her, knows she has such a big, fun personality and our biggest fear is for that to ever be diminished over something so small.

We have spent many hours researching the different techniques used and surgeons available to do reconstruction of Gabby’s outer ear and we have chosen who we believe to be best for our girl. The Dr we have chosen is Dr Sheryl Lewin, whom is based out of California. She uses a porous, medical substance to create a 1 piece, 3D ear that is an exact replica of Gabby’s big ear. The ear is usually complete in 1 surgery, but Gabby will require a second surgery to perfect her earlobe due to the severity of her microtia. This surgery is outpatient and she will leave on Tylenol only for pain. Since the ear is made from a porous substance, her own tissue will grow throughout the ear and she will even have feeling in it!

Procedures that are performed locally would require 4-6 surgeries, large skin graft, removal of ribs, a hospital stay with pain medication and cannot be performed until the child is 7-8 yrs old. Gabby also isn’t a candidate for this surgery because of the severity of her microtia, they would not be able to create an ear that sticks out like a natural ear. Another advantage of Dr Lewin’s technique is that the ear is one piece so it will not be prone to fractures as other prosthetic ears would. She is currently the only Dr in the world performing this cutting edge technique.

The cost

Unfortunately, we do not have the greatest insurance through Brandon’s employer. Dr Lewin’s office is trying hard to get an approval for a gap exception, but their experience with our insurance has shown that it isn’t likely to happen. This means we will have to pay as a cash patient for the surgery and the cost is $54,000. On top of that, we will need to travel to California and stay for 2 1/2 weeks for her first surgery and then travel back and stay for a week for her second surgery. There is no way we can afford her surgery and travel expenses on our own, so we are coming to our friends and family to ask for help to give Gabby the gift of an ear. If there is any money left at the end, it will be saved to pay for her abutment surgery when she is 7. This will allow her to wear her hearing aid without a headband.

Her surgery is planned for next summer and she cannot wait, she asks me almost every day if her big ear is ready yet ❤️Shes especially excited to wear earrings and sunglasses like her big sister.

Thank you all for the support you’ve shown us throughout her life and for any help you are able to give.