Pelham child awaits ‘life-altering’ ear surgery
Family of Emmett Gervason launches Gofundme campaign to help cover costs of procedure in California
A north Pelham couple is hoping Niagara residents will open their hearts and see how ear surgery for their toddler son could be life-altering for him.
Emmett Gervason, who will turn three in June, was born with a congenital deformity in his right ear that his parents Amanda and Aaron say will affect the rest of his life if it isn’t corrected soon. But it will require travelling to California for expensive surgery that they can’t possibly afford by themselves.
The long-time sweethearts who met in kindergarten are hoping others will chip in via a Gofundme page they’ve launched to help the little boy reach his full potential.
Emmett was born with pediatric microtia, which left his ear small and misshapen in appearance, and atresia, a condition in which he is missing the ear canal, effectively making him deaf on one side.
While he has a bone-anchored hearing aid that allows some sound to be processed as vibrations, Emmett has real problems identifying the direction of sounds and coping in places with louder sounds.
Amanda said the deficits are creating numerous challenges in areas such as learning and his ability to speak, not to mention his mental health
“It affects his speech, it affects his language skills, it affects his emotions; he gets really frustrated,” she said.
Amanda said the Hospital for Sick Kids in Toronto does do a corrective surgery, involving removing a piece of rib and skin grafts, but Emmett won’t qualify until he’s at least 10.
That would mean losing out on some of the most important developmental years in childhood, which could set him back for life, she fears.
“Ten years of age is way too long,” said Amanda. “Leaving (it) uncorrected would ultimately have a huge impact on his learning going forward.”
Through connecting with other families with children affected by microtia, Amanda and Aaron learned of surgeons in Palo Alto who specialize in correcting the condition by surgically reconstructing the external ear and carrying out a canalplasty to allow kids with the condition to hear.
The family hopes to have the surgery done in July.
But Amanda said Ontario’s OHIP plan won’t cover it, and the cost is steep: Because the family would have to remain in California for up to eight weeks for followup tests and to watch for any infection, while Emmett’s younger sister, Alora, remains in Ontario, it’s expected to cost $250,000, including expenses.
Amanda said it was difficult to ask for help, but friends and family convinced the couple it was necessary in order for Emmett to get the surgery in a timely manner.
“I think the most difficult part was admitting to ourselves that we can’t do this on our own,” she said.
“(But) it’s about our baby, and what’s best for him. This is lifealtering surgery.”
As of Feb. 11, just over $33,000 of the family’s $250,000 fundraising goal has been raised. The Gofundme page is at: https://ca.gofundme.com/f/ an-ear-for-emmy