This site has been created with a hope that the sharing of my experience in a relatively new process may help someone else. Though, to be honest, it may be just to help myself.
In 1961 most doctors in southeast Missouri had never seen a birth defect such as mine. My grandparents told me of how when I was born no one really new what to expect. There in that doctors clinic I was thought likely not to survive. They called it "blue baby" back then. I really don't know what it meant. My mother was told to take me home, if I survived- to watch and see if I respond to sound. That was it.
I thank God for my sister, Sandy. She was three years older but she was the type person who was born mature. She had a maternal instinct. She helped me learn and grow. She was my best friend.
In the picture you see here I was about eight. It was from age six through eight that my parents took me to "specialist". The March of Dimes provided them with as much information as they had. Which was not a lot.
Now no one likes to be talked about behind their back. Worse still, is to be talked about as if you are not even there. Doctors should be professionals. To this day I harbor a certain resentment to these people who talked about me as if I were some prize pig that they had made this discovery about. A child should be treated with respect. I know that today we train our medical people to remember who they are- and that a person is in the room.
We just called it "My Little Ear".
Today they call it Microtia or some Birth Anomaly.
In the 1960's the specialist thought surgery was too difficult and risky an option. They said wait. Wait until he is older. The problem was the world does not wait. I was picked on by other kids and grew up with a great deal of self-esteem issues. My parents separated and divorced when I was eleven. I went to live with my father-(an alcoholic) and my two little brothers. There was not time nor money to be concerned with my little ear.
School was an escape. Since my hearing usually resulted in my sitting in the front of the class; I thought I might as well commit to my studies. They said I was "the smart kid". That did not help in making friends for someone who was just a little introverted.
As my teen years grew I learned something. I learned that I did not care what others thought anymore. There was no great epiphany- just grew up, I guess.
So life went on, I got married ,divorced ,and now I have married my soul mate.
At age 46 I went to my primary care physician and asked if he knew how I might get some information about my hearing. I had began to notice a new issue with my hearing. The left side seemed to be losing it.
Dr. Swad set me an appointment with a hearing specialist, Dr. Foster. Dr. Foster did a hearing test on me and said I might be a canidate for a BAHA. So I asked , " What's a BAHA?" He explained it . ( See- http://www.umm.edu/otolaryngology/baha.htm) . From there an appointment was made with Dr. Lambert at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
After fighting with Blue Cross/ Blue Shield for my insurance coverage I finally have a set appointment for February 20, 2008. This is where I am on February 11, 2008.
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OFF TO CHARLESTON:
Tuesday, Feb. 19,2008 11 am. :
Met with Dr. Paul R. Lambert at his office at Rutledge Tower at MUSC. Dr. Lambert discussed the procedure scheduled for Wednesday. He explained that an area above and behind my right ear will be shaved, a flap/incision made, removal of underlying tissue , then a pilot hole half the thickness of my skull will be made and the titanium abutment attached. A yellow looking gauge and bandage will be placed and must be kept dry for 10-12 days. Then the yellow gauge will be removed and the area can be cleaned . In about 90 days the actual apllinace will then be attached. All my questions and concerns were treated very well and my wife and I left feeeling comfortable with the procedure.
That afternoon we toured some of historic Charleston. We had been there before but always enjoyed any chance to return. I spoke with my pastor, Mitch Edge , by phone and we all felt very encouraged. I was scheduled to be at MUSC at 6:45 am Wednesday.
Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008 ; 6:30 am:
Surprise, the preacher was there ! Now he had to drive about 3.5 hours to get there and I sure did not expect it. But I was relieved that my wife, Sharon , would not have to sit in the waiting room by herself. They called me back in the prep area about 7:15 am.