Support Violette's Life-Changing Surgeries

Amazing Update on Vee’s Surgery Fund!

We are beyond grateful to share that, thanks to your incredible generosity, we’ve raised over $22,000 through GoFundMe and private donations to support Vee’s upcoming surgeries. Your kindness, love, and support mean the world to us, and we truly can’t thank you enough.

We also have some big updates—Vee has had two appointments with the Craniofacial team, both of which went really well! Her first surgery is officially scheduled for early July, with the second planned for early November.

While Vee is fully on board with these surgeries, this journey has been really challenging for her. She’s facing a lot emotionally, and we’re taking things day by day with the support of her care team. Knowing she has such a strong community behind her truly helps more than we can say.

To continue supporting her fund, we’d love for you to join us a week from Saturday for the Italian Supper Fundraiser hosted by CIHCC. It’s going to be a wonderful night of great food and community, all for a cause that means so much to us. (Reposting the flyer in the comments—please spread the word!)

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your care, concern, and generosity. Vee is so lucky to have such an incredible community behind her!

* if you can’t attend next Saturday 3/8 but want to donate, you can send a contribution via Venmo earmarked for the supper. @Laura-Theobald-7

Help Violette on Her Journey to a Brighter Future

Violette has faced more challenges in her young life than most of us can imagine. Born with significant craniofacial differences stemming from Goldenhar Syndrome, she’s undergone countless procedures and overcome incredible obstacles. Now, we’re preparing for the most extensive step in her journey yet—a series of reconstructive surgeries that will transform her quality of life.

Vee was born with a severe craniofacial syndrome and has lived her life without much of the bone structure on the right side of her face. As a result, she’s needed a trach, feeding tube, and in-home nursing care since day one. Now, she’s at a major turning point and needs two extreme surgeries to continue correcting everything. These surgeries are expected to take about 6 months and will address critical issues with her facial structure, breathing, and ability to eat and speak. They represent a life-changing opportunity for Violette, but they also come with a staggering cost of around $400,000 per surgery. While insurance covers much of the expenses, a significant portion is left for me to manage on my own.

Why We Need Your Help

The financial burden of these surgeries is overwhelming, and we cannot do this alone. Funds raised will go directly toward medical expenses, medical equipment, travel to and from specialists, and the additional costs of recovery, including missed work and at-home care.

This journey will be challenging, but it is one we must take to give Violette the future she deserves—a future where she can breathe, eat, and speak without difficulty, and where she feels confident and comfortable in her own skin.

How You Can Make a Difference

Surgery Stage 1 is scheduled for July, Stage 2 for November. Violette will be home from school during her recovery, and the road ahead will require strength, resilience, and support from our community.

Your donation, no matter the size, will make a meaningful impact on Violette’s life. If you’re unable to give, sharing this campaign with others who may be able to help is just as valuable.

Thank you for standing with us and being a part of Violette’s journey. Your kindness means the world to our family.

With gratitude,

Laura, Violette and Estar

The Plan:

Stage 1:

* Right mandibular gap arthroplasty, which is a surgical procedure performed on the right side of the mandible where a gap is created within the temporomandibular joint by removing a fused bony mass.

* Placement of a Matthew’s Device and a multi vector external distraction device. These provide stabilization and allow right mandibular advancement and rotation of the mandible toward the left to stretch her soft tissue.

* Maxillofacial CT to use to fabricate the new joint.

* Joint fabrication

Stage 2:

* Mandibular repositioning and the insertion of the right side synthetic TMJ joint construct

* Left sagittal ramus osteotomy, a surgical procedure that involves repositioning the mandible to treat dentofacial deformities

* Left bilateral sagittal split osteotomy, a surgical procedure where the lower jaw is separated from the face and repositioned.

* LeFort I osteotomy, a surgical procedure that realigns the upper jaw and teeth to improve the appearance and function of the face.

* Aggressive physical therapy

Goals:

* Improvement of the malocclusion

* Improved facial symmetry

* Improved mandibular motion (maybe even be able to eat!)

* Decannulation of her trach