My friends have their own forum called Mothers-Place and they were so kind to add a section about Elizabeth and what we are trying to do. Above is the awesome banner that was made to go on their site!
Thank you so much DJ and Mel!!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Breast Cancer Awareness Swarovski Bracelets
I thought I would post some pictures of bracelets that I have left that I made in hopes to add to the ear fund. I've been asking $15.00 each or if someone wanted them all to share with family and friends I would reduce the price for the lot of them. Just e-mail me if interested!
This beautiful Breast Cancer Awareness bracelet is handmade by me out of Swarovski Crystals and Sterling Silver.
I have used "Rose" Swarovski cystals paired with "Crystal" AB along with Czech rondelles to give your wrist a little sparkle! From the center of the bracelet dangles a sterling silver awareness ribbon charm. It securely closes with a sterling silver clasp.
I created the bracelet in honor of my grandmother, Jewel, who lost her battle with Breast Cancer when I was around eight years old.
I have several sizes to pick from. I have:
(2) 7 inch
(5) 7 1/2 inch
(3) 8 inch
I also have one different 7 1/2 inch, instead of the small round czech rondelles being clear this one has pink rondelles.
Conversation with Mr. Barron & Airfare
Today I had a phone conversation with Mr. Barron about Elizabeth's ear. I sent him in some pictures and he feels confidently that he can fabricate her a prosthetic ear so that it looks natural and will not have to deal with the stares and questions, which we had to deal with in the shoe aisle of Wal-Mart just this week. I understand people have questions, but sometimes it is better to hold your tongue especially when the child is present. It's not really nice to blurt out "Is that a birth defect?" or "What is wrong with her ear?" Right now I think she is kind of oblivious to the questions but it won't be long and she will understand. That is why I want to be able to get the funds as quickly as possible so she will not have to deal with people who don't understand how to approach the situation correctly.
Mr. Barron said that the way we would do the prosthetic is to have impressions made of both ears and at that time 1/3 of the money would be due. He could schedule us anytime to have that done and we would not have to stay any length of time, could go home the same day. We then would have to come back to Virginia to have the ear painted and fitted. He has appointments scheduling 2-3 months out for getting the ear fitted. When we have the ear fitted we would have to spend the night.
So we would either have to drive to Virginia which is about 20 hours one way or be able to come up with airfare. If you or anyone that you know has airline miles that they would be willing to donate that would just be an awesome blessing. A road trip would be the cheapest, maybe not the sanest, way to go so gas card donations are welcome too!
Mr. Barron said that the way we would do the prosthetic is to have impressions made of both ears and at that time 1/3 of the money would be due. He could schedule us anytime to have that done and we would not have to stay any length of time, could go home the same day. We then would have to come back to Virginia to have the ear painted and fitted. He has appointments scheduling 2-3 months out for getting the ear fitted. When we have the ear fitted we would have to spend the night.
So we would either have to drive to Virginia which is about 20 hours one way or be able to come up with airfare. If you or anyone that you know has airline miles that they would be willing to donate that would just be an awesome blessing. A road trip would be the cheapest, maybe not the sanest, way to go so gas card donations are welcome too!
50 Ear Wishes Granted & Other Updates on Funds
Elizabeth recived her first ear wishes from her Great Aunt Donna! Thank you so much! We love you!
I have been able to sell several items over the internet for a total of $202.11! So for now we have a grand total of $252.11! We still have a LONG ways to go but it is a start.
I have been able to sell several items over the internet for a total of $202.11! So for now we have a grand total of $252.11! We still have a LONG ways to go but it is a start.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Microtia Poem
I'm Special:
On my way from Heaven,
God Delayed my trip that day.
He said that i was special,
and then sent me on my way.
But not before He kissed me,
Right upon my ear.
He left his blessed mark
to carry with me here.
He whispered in my ear right then,
that He loved me without a doubt,
and then He closed my ear up tight,
so the whisper won't get out.
He told me both my legs were strong
and would help me stand up tall.
He told me both my arms would work
to catch me if I fall.
My eyes would catch my memories
to store within the pages of my mind,
My heart would fill with all the things I would love,
so many things, i would find.
He told me I could fall asleep
to my Daddy's bedtime tales,
and listen while my mother sings
of seas and boats and sails.
One ear, He told me,could hear the sounds
that little birdies make.
The other ear was his gift to me,
a blessing for my sake.
For when I'm feeling sad, he said,
my other ear would hear,
His whispered words of eternal love,
left waiting for me there.
I'm special!!!!
10,000 Ear Wishes
I have started this blog in hopes of raising $10,000 to cover the costs of a prosthetic ear for our daughter Elizabeth.
Elizabeth is an amazing little girl that brightens any room with her smile and quirky little laugh. She is a smart girl and surprises us with her imagination and eagerness to learn. She is the best daughter anyone could ask for and reminds me that we will be best friends forever and ever.
On January 13, 2005 we were blessed with the most beautiful little girl. Elizabeth was a fighter from the beginning! At 11 weeks during my pregnancy I had to go in for an ultrasound due to some spotting and we found out that she had an abdominal wall defect called an ompahlocele (warning: the link contains graphic pictures of an ompahlocele). If you decide to click on the link you will see a little boy, Zack, that had an ompahlocele very similar to Elizabeth's and hers was reduced and repaired the same way, at age 18 months. Omphalocele babies are often born with something extra and Elizabeth's "extra" was Microtia Atresia with Hemi-Facial Microsomia. This basically means that her right ear did not form correctly (microtia) and that she does not have a canal (atresia) and that the lower half of her right side of her face is underdeveloped and does not grow normally (hemi-facial microsomia). Elizabeth was born a month early and spent 31 days in the NICU at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas.
There are several surgical options to correct the appearance of the outer ear including something called rib-graft and medpor. Reconstructive surgery does not always work as there could be rejection of the implant. There is also the appearance of the ear with rib-graft and medpor, they do not always look the best. The canal can also possibly be opened, if all of the inner bones line up correctly. Children with HFM (hemi-facial microsomia) are less likely to be candidates for canal repair. Then there is the prosthetic route. We have thought about what would be best for Elizabeth. At this time we feel that the prosthetic would be best. We think that we should let her decide later if she would want the reconstructive surgery. Elizabeth could also decide to do a jaw surgery later in life to re-align the lower part of the face.
Robert Barron does amazing prosthetic work and he is the one we hope to be able to make Elizabeth an ear. Here is an amazing slide show about a little girl with microtia and her new ear created by Robert Barron. Elizabeth will be starting school soon and we all know that kids can sometimes not be the nicest about differences. We hope that with the prosthetic Elizabeth will be spared from the stares, questions and being made fun of. Although Elizabeth knows there is a difference between her two ears she does not realize that she is different. She knows that she can't wear sunglasses because the won't stay up and she knows she can't wear ear plugs on her right side. She can't wear the cool 3-D glasses because they just fall off. Like in the slide show of Madison I would love to see Elizabeth being able to wear that pair of Tinkerbell sunglasses she wants.
We currently have no insurance so we will have to cover the cost of the prosthetic as well as travel costs 100%. I hope that through the kindness of other people's hearts we can find 10,000 ear wishes for Elizabeth. I will have a PayPal donate button where anyone who would like to send Elizabeth an ear wish may do so. If you send send an ear wish please include your e-mail address and name so that we may thank you.
I will also be doing anything and everything to raise funds by way of saving, crafting and selling stuff on e-bay and keeping the page updated on funds raised.
Elizabeth is an amazing little girl that brightens any room with her smile and quirky little laugh. She is a smart girl and surprises us with her imagination and eagerness to learn. She is the best daughter anyone could ask for and reminds me that we will be best friends forever and ever.
On January 13, 2005 we were blessed with the most beautiful little girl. Elizabeth was a fighter from the beginning! At 11 weeks during my pregnancy I had to go in for an ultrasound due to some spotting and we found out that she had an abdominal wall defect called an ompahlocele (warning: the link contains graphic pictures of an ompahlocele). If you decide to click on the link you will see a little boy, Zack, that had an ompahlocele very similar to Elizabeth's and hers was reduced and repaired the same way, at age 18 months. Omphalocele babies are often born with something extra and Elizabeth's "extra" was Microtia Atresia with Hemi-Facial Microsomia. This basically means that her right ear did not form correctly (microtia) and that she does not have a canal (atresia) and that the lower half of her right side of her face is underdeveloped and does not grow normally (hemi-facial microsomia). Elizabeth was born a month early and spent 31 days in the NICU at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas.
There are several surgical options to correct the appearance of the outer ear including something called rib-graft and medpor. Reconstructive surgery does not always work as there could be rejection of the implant. There is also the appearance of the ear with rib-graft and medpor, they do not always look the best. The canal can also possibly be opened, if all of the inner bones line up correctly. Children with HFM (hemi-facial microsomia) are less likely to be candidates for canal repair. Then there is the prosthetic route. We have thought about what would be best for Elizabeth. At this time we feel that the prosthetic would be best. We think that we should let her decide later if she would want the reconstructive surgery. Elizabeth could also decide to do a jaw surgery later in life to re-align the lower part of the face.
Robert Barron does amazing prosthetic work and he is the one we hope to be able to make Elizabeth an ear. Here is an amazing slide show about a little girl with microtia and her new ear created by Robert Barron. Elizabeth will be starting school soon and we all know that kids can sometimes not be the nicest about differences. We hope that with the prosthetic Elizabeth will be spared from the stares, questions and being made fun of. Although Elizabeth knows there is a difference between her two ears she does not realize that she is different. She knows that she can't wear sunglasses because the won't stay up and she knows she can't wear ear plugs on her right side. She can't wear the cool 3-D glasses because they just fall off. Like in the slide show of Madison I would love to see Elizabeth being able to wear that pair of Tinkerbell sunglasses she wants.
We currently have no insurance so we will have to cover the cost of the prosthetic as well as travel costs 100%. I hope that through the kindness of other people's hearts we can find 10,000 ear wishes for Elizabeth. I will have a PayPal donate button where anyone who would like to send Elizabeth an ear wish may do so. If you send send an ear wish please include your e-mail address and name so that we may thank you.
I will also be doing anything and everything to raise funds by way of saving, crafting and selling stuff on e-bay and keeping the page updated on funds raised.
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