The family of a young boy with deformed ears finds himself in a sticky situation when the child’s hoped-for surgery becomes prohibitively expensive.
Young Léon was born with a severe ear deformity. His condition, bilateral microtia with atresia, is extremely rare and is not usually recognized until birth.
Two different operations are possible, but according to the family, one of them would ensure a better future for the child.
“We can do ear reconstructions here in Quebec. It is a purely aesthetic reconstruction. So they’re going to redo Leon’s ears purely physically. But he still has to wear a device behind his ear,” explains Bianca Baril-Milo, Léon’s mother.
This operation would be performed in Quebec when Léon was 10 years old. The reconstruction of the ears would be done using cartilage from the child’s ribs. Up to the age of 12, several operations would also be necessary.
However, in the United States there is a different approach, but it is much more expensive as it is not covered by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec.
“In the United States, you don’t have to remove costal cartilage with the synthetic ear. Then it is an operation that is carried out from the age of three. That would give him both ears for his entry into kindergarten, which is our primary goal,” she explains.
Photo GoFundMe
According to the family, the cost could run as high as $250,000.
Ms. Baril-Milo hopes to have this operation to spare her son the social stigma that, according to her, often accompanies being different.
“Even if we live in a society that tries to embrace difference, then we’re trying to show that it’s right – then yes, it actually is – the reality of things is that kids who are different, or who however different, we look at that person,” she laments.
The family created a GoFundMe page to help fund the operation and is asking for the public’s help. The parents have been able to raise 20% of the sum so far.