Uxbridge boy's first surgery a success
July 16, 2008 - 01:43
By Jeff Hayward
UXBRIDGE -- One down, one to go.
Thanks to the miracle of medical science, four-year-old Carter Miller of Uxbridge has a new ear, with another on the way.
Carter, a student at Quaker Village Public School, has a form of Treacher Collins Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that affects the development of bones and tissue in the face. As a result, Carter was essentially born with no ears. He headed off to California in late-April to undergo surgery, under the 'Medpor' technique, a process that actually allows blood flow and nerve endings to develop in the reconstructed ear.
He underwent an eight-hour surgery and bounced right back to his energetic self, said his mother Robyn.
"The next day he was doing his thing," she said with a smile at their home on July 14.
Carter is set for another procedure in California on Aug. 6 to add the other ear. And on Nov. 25, he'll go again for completion, including any needed touch-ups, said Ms. Miller. Carter can hear as he had a special bone-anchored hearing aid installed when he was an infant.
Meanwhile, he and his seven-year-old sister Regan were happily playing in the family's living room while their mother talked about the family's battle with OHIP to cover medical expenses. Ms. Miller expects the surgeries to cost in the neighbourhood of $90,000 and, despite having a referral from a Mississauga doctor, the family was turned down for coverage. She is fighting to overturn the decision, adding she has submitted an appeal "to prove the same procedure is not available in Ontario," said Ms. Miller.
Fortunately, the community has rallied to raise more than $70,000 for Carter's procedure. Various community groups, most recently the Roxy Kids in Action, who held a sale raising over $1,000, have contributed to the cause. In May, two Uxbridge children - Andrew Swan and Nathan Cook, both seven - asked guests to bring $2 coins to their birthday party and turned over the loot to Carter's family, said Ms. Miller.
"All these young kids are setting an example in their community," she said.
The community has also donated thousands of Aeroplan Miles to help cover the expense of flying to the U.S., she said. Relatives of former Uxbridge chief administrative officer Alex Grant are providing accommodations for the family in California, she said.
"The support has been amazing; we're very thankful," said Ms. Miller. "It would be nice for OHIP to come through, then we can return the money back into the community."
Carter nodded excitedly at his home when asked by his mother if he's looking forward to his next trip to the U.S.
Ms. Miller was originally concerned the surgery would take some wind out her son's sails, but now "it's more about slowing him down," she said with a smile.
Latest News
Election called for Oct. 14Canadians will go to the polls Tuesday, Oct. 14, the day after Thanksgiving, to vote for a new federal government.
Prime
Minister Stephen Harper, who had fixed the next ...
Whitby's Abilities Centre gets $15 million from fedsWHITBY -- On the eve of a federal election call, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is lauding a $15 million windfall announced today for his home riding of Whitby-Oshawa.The money...
Three new cars bound for Oshawa GM plant
OSHAWA -- A General Motors spokesman said today the company will be building three new cars in Oshawa, the first of which will be in production in 2010.The comments ...
General Motors, feds and Province make a deal for Oshawa
OSHAWA -- It's Christmas in September for General Motors and its Oshawa employees.An agreement reached today between GM and the federal and provincial governments means the ...
School board looks into going greenDURHAM -- The public school board is looking into what it takes to build a green school. A mild, generic investigation into the construction costs, ongoing savings, and what ...
Durham residents on board with public transitDURHAM -- As the price at the pumps soars, Durham residents are joining their fellow Canadians in migrating to public transit.Pickering resident and student Amira Rezkalla...
Hunting for flood solutionsDURHAM -- Flooded Ajax and Whitby residents had politicians on their side at a recent works committee meeting, but questions over whether they can expect relief remain. On Aug...
Dead Pickering bird ends West Nile seasonDURHAM -- A dead bird found in Pickering is the latest to test positive for West Nile virus (WNV).The crow was picked up on Sept. 2 and was the eighth bird in Durham in ...
Gas leak evacuates 10 Pickering homesPICKERING -- A gas leak on Sheppard Avenue in Pickering Thursday afternoon caused residents to evacuate their homes for more than five hours, a City official said.Everett ...
Relief for westbound commuters on Hwy. 401DURHAM REGION -- Two lanes of the westbound 401 collectors at the Don Valley Parkway have re-opened for the morning rush hour commute, however, the exit ramp to the DVP/404 on...