Let's Make Noise for Two Boys

Hello.  I am Mindy and I have two adorable, handsome boys, Louis and Abraham.  I adopted Louis and Abraham from Chinese orphanages in Wuhan (the capital of the Hubei Province) at the ages of 2 and 2 1/2 years old respectively.   Louis is now 8 years old and Abraham will be 7 years this month.   

Both Louis and Abraham have microtia / atresia on both ears.  The boys have no ear openings on either side and they have no ears but rather deformed nubs where ears should be.   They currently rely on a BAHA which takes sound and vibrates the skull which then vibrates the inner ear (to describe it simply).  This has allowed them to socialize and learn - we are very thankful for their BAHAs (Louis wears a Cochlear brand BAHA and Abraham wears an Oticon brand BAHA).  Both do well in school with the exception of speech, reading, and other language arts.  Both are awesome in Math :)  

As they transitioned from the Chinese orphanage to life here in America they had a sign interpreter at pre-school.  Donni along with our entire family learned and taught the boys sign language.  We actually began basic sign language to begin communicating before we even left China.  Sign language was our first form of "talking" with Louis and Abraham.  Then we progressed to BAHAs after much fighting with the insurance companies over the years.  Louis is now on his second BAHA replaced after 5 years with the first one that finally gave out.  Abraham is still on his first BAHA.   Insurance did not cover any of Abraham's cost.  We were able to get Louis' partially covered.   The hearing devices have been nothing less than life altering for the boys.  

They are scheduled for their first surgeries to open them up (to drill through the bone and form ear canals) and to form ears March 19 (Louis) and March 20th (Abraham) with Dr. Roberson at the California Ear Institute (The International Center for Atresia Microtia Repair).  The surgeries for one side/one ear are 10 hours long each and require the boys and myself to stay in California for a month for post-op visits.   We will work with one side and one ear on each boy.   And then in September will work with the alternate side performing the same procedure once again.  

Dr. Roberson and his procedures developed originally by Dr. Reinisch are world renowned and this medical group has helped thousands of children from around the world to hear.     You can visit their website at http://www.atresiarepair.com

http://www.californiaearinstitute.com 

I am a single Mom.   I started my own business in plastics 2 years ago allowing me the freedom of a flexible schedule to be with Louis and Abraham immediately after school for tons of homework to keep them progressing in school as well as have flexibility to travel for these surgeries :)

I am raising monies for this first set of surgeries in March 2018 with this fundraiser. Each ear and canal costs $85,000 each. One for Louis and Abraham for a total of $340,000 for the two to have 2 ears. $20,000 is due to hold all 4 surgery dates and operation rooms ($5,000 each March 19, 20th, September 17th and 18th).  3 weeks prior to the surgeries the remaining fees are due.

You can hit the donate now on this, our gofundme page.
Or if you are donating a large sum and prefer to donate directly to the surgery center you can call the surgery center and make payments to Global Hearing, Inc. Marcelena Cushing can be reached at [phone redacted]. They accept credit card payments via phone. You can reference Abraham and Louis c/o Mindy Grooms.

As any compassionate parent desires, I vowed to not only give love to Abraham and Louis but to do everything possible under the sun to give them hearing.  I have followed Dr. Reinisch's group for many years, watched many seminars, and will make it happen for them this year.

Thank you for taking time to visit, to read, and to donate - every $1 is appreciated more than you will ever know.  It will open up the world for Louis and Abraham.

Thank you,
Mindy