‘MY LITTLE GI BORN WITHO
Anna and her husband, Jay – who live in Tarragindi, South Brisbane – were told their much longed-for baby had bilateral microtia and atresia, meaning she has no ear or ear canals on either side of her head. Now though, in a revolutionary new surgery, the Brisbane 4-year-old will get new ears.
The genetic condition affects one in 10,000 babies, but very few girls and rarely both ears.
“After the shock of seeing she had no ears we were so worried,” says Anna. “We wondered if our little girl would ever be able to hear.”
Thankfully, tests revealed Harriet’s inner ear was functioning and she had limited hearing.
Doctors fitted her with a headband-mounted hearing aid which conducted sound through the bone in Harriet’s forehead.
Rather than learning sign language, Anna and
Jay encouraged their little girl to develop speech and language skills.
And as Harriet grew into a bright and bubbly tot, their efforts paid off. When she joined kindy, her speech was as good as other kids her age.
“She was a little shy, but made lots of friends,” says Anna. “And at home she was a real chatterbox.”
But as happy as Harriet was, she desperately wanted to have ears like her peers. And being a little fashionista, she loved Anna’s accessories and longed to be like mummy.
“Seeing me wear earrings and sunglasses, she wanted to wear them too so we could look the same. She’s a real girly girl, loves pretty dresses and accessories,” Anna says, smiling.
“She kept asking when she could get pierced ears and it was breaking my heart that I didn’t know if she ever would.”
She and Jay researched ear reconstruction, then at a medical seminar Anna met Sydney surgeon Dr Joe Dusseldorp, who was pioneering an American technique of 3D-printed ears.
The procedure involved porous polyethylene implants being fitted with a hearing aid and covered with skin grafts, making them almost indistinguishable from the real thing.
Harriet’s wish could come true, but cost was the only thing getting in the way of her new ears.
“Even with private health insurance and Medicare, the out-of-pocket expenses were $70,000,” says Anna. “We didn’t have that sort of money, but we wanted to give our little girl every opportunity other kids have.”
Adamant they’d find the funds, the determined mum and dad set up a Gofundme page called Hear & Now – Harriet’s 3D Ear Fundraiser.
“We told Harriet it was to help her get new ears so she could wear earrings. She was over the moon,” Anna explains.
The couple set an ambitious target of $20,000 and just before Father’s Day this year the fundraising site went live.
Anna and Jay shared the link with everyone they knew and went for lunch. And halfway through their meals at the pub they stopped dead in their tracks.
“Anna just wanted to check the site was working and suddenly gasped out loud,” Jay chuckles. “In a few hours there had already been $7000 donated.”
They could not believe it when after just one week they’d reached their goal.
Since then, the pot has swelled to $60,000, with kind-hearted friends, family, and strangers from all over the world touched by the story of the little girl who wants new ears.
“It’s been overwhelming,” says Anna. “We can’t believe how generous people are. This will change Harriet’s life.”
When Harriet turns five in January, she’ll only have a few months to wait before her surgery in May. It’ll be a long and complicated 12-hour operation with one ear being treated at a time and months apart.
“Harriet just can’t wait to get her new ‘big ears’ so she’ll be able to wear earrings,” Anna says.
“Having ears will enable Harriet to go through school, university and life with confidence, just like any other girl,” says Anna. “That’s all any parent wants for their child.”