Mar 06, 2008 - 11:22 AM

Jeff Hayward

UXBRIDGE -- In his Uxbridge home, Carter Miller laughs, plays, and rides on his older sister's back.

The four-year-old eagerly grabs the Times-Journal's video camera microphone to introduce himself and spell his name. He talks excitedly about the plane trip he will take later this month to California.

By most accounts, Carter is like any other 4-year-old.

However, the plane trip to the west coast on March 19 is not just an escape from the seemingly endless cold and snow southern Ontario is offering up this season. Carter is off to get prosthetic ears from a doctor in California, as he was essentially born without them. The energetic Quaker Village Public School student, who attends Junior Kindergarten there, has a form of Treacher Collins Syndrome, a rare genetic condition. The U.S. National Library of Medicine website, www.ghr.nlm.nih.gov, describes the syndrome as "a condition that affects the development of bones and other tissues in the face. The signs and symptoms of this disorder vary greatly, ranging from almost unnoticeable to severe. Most affected individuals have underdeveloped facial bones, particularly the cheek bones, and a very small jaw and chin."

The site reports one in 50,000 people are affected by Treacher Collins Syndrome.

Robyn Miller, Carter's mother, said the surgery, under the 'Medpor' technique, will cost $90,000. Medpor implants are life-like and actually bleed when cut, although there are no nerve endings, she said. Carter can hear now as he had a special bone-anchored hearing aid installed when he was an infant.

Various community non-profit groups, including the Bonner Boys, Gorgons, Uxbridge Blackhawks, Potlickers Hockey Club and P.I.N.K. have organized fundraisers in recent months and about $60,000 has been raised toward the procedure, she said proudly. "We never expected this," she said. "It's amazing, there's no words for it." Individuals have also donated 5,000 Aeroplan travel miles for Carter's trip, said Ms. Miller, adding Alex Grant, former chief administrative officer of Uxbridge, has arranged accommodations for the Miller family in California.

Bob Ferguson, Uxbridge's arena manager and member of the Bonner Boys, said the surgery is a worthy cause to support. "Any time (there is) a problem with a child everyone jumps on the bandwagon, it's part of (living) in a small community," said Mr. Ferguson. "You can see the support the whole town has given (to Carter)... I think it's important to everyone."

He noted funds were raised through a golf tournament, auction and a dunk-tank event among others. And the support likely won't stop there; Mr. Ferguson said there is a Bonner memorial hockey tournament this May and "I'm sure a portion (of proceeds) will go to (the Miller family)." The Bonner Boys are handling the fundraising account, said Mr. Ferguson, and confirmed over $55,000 is in it currently.

In the meantime, the Miller family is searching for a Canadian doctor to give them a reference in order for the American procedure to be considered for OHIP coverage. A Toronto hospital can perform the surgery but it's a different technique, explained Ms. Miller. "They use cartilage reconstruction (from ribs), but (the child) has to be 10 to 12 years old and the ribs have to be a certain size," she said. "It's also quite invasive." She said it's important to get the work done now "to minimize bullying and give him more opportunities. I don't want his choices to be limited."

If the family manages to get OHIP approval, Ms. Miller would like to see the funds raised go back into other community causes.

Carter will undergo three surgeries in the U.S. over seven months, said his mother, and will be fully healed by summer of next year. The family, including Carter, his sister Regan and father Jamie, are all smiles about it. "(Carter) has a great personality for what he has to deal with," said Ms. Miller. "He's got a real love for learning."

To donate toward Carter's surgery, call Bob Ferguson at 416-990-1964.