We really love getting updates and photos of all the children we’ve helped at the Little Baby Face Foundation, and we hope you love reading their updates as much as we do! Today, we’re sharing Anisa’s incredible journey with you.
We really love getting updates and photos of all the children we’ve helped at the Little Baby Face Foundation, and we hope you love reading their updates as much as we do! Today, we’re sharing Anisa’s incredible journey with you.
Anisa is the sweetest, most articulate 12-year-old girl from Tajikistan. Born with microtia in her right ear, Anisa says it’s a dream come true to finally be getting surgery at the Little Baby Face Foundation to reconstruct her ear and improve her hearing.
“I used to get bullied at school every day in Tajikistan and America. Like, people used to say that I don’t have an ear, and they used to bully me every day and everywhere I go,” Anisa told us. She loves gymnastics and dreams of one day becoming an Olympic champion, but she was told so many times that no champions are missing an ear, that she has a hard time imagining herself ever realizing that dream.
Anisa’s mother was looking for help for Anisa for two years before she finally found the Little Baby Face Foundation while scrolling through Instagram. Both of them were so excited to apply.
Anisa’s first surgery took place in the beginning of April, which feels very fitting, as it was a holy time for many (Easter, Passover, and Ramadan). For all of us, her surgery symbolizes hope and new beginnings. We also recently had another 12-year-old girl with microtia with us for surgery this month, Veronica, from Mexico.
This first surgery was to create the framework of her ear. We’ve taken cartilage from her chest to construct the framework of an ear, which we set into the side of her head. Over the next few months, the wounds will heal and the skin around the inserted cartilage will shrink, further shaping the ear.
Surgery went off very smoothly, and at her post-op visit with Dr. Romo 6 days later, Anisa was in great spirits. For the next few weeks, Anisa will need to be careful with her ear as it heals. For younger children, recovery includes wearing the Romo Guard at all times for the first month, an ear covering designed by our very own Dr. Romo, founder of the Little Baby Face Foundation. At Anisa’s age, she will not have to cover or protect her ear, except to sleep if she thinks she may accidentally roll over onto that side. Dr. Romo playfully put a happy face sticker onto Anisa’s Romo Guard to remind her to have a good day. We don’t think she needed any reminders—Anisa was absolutely radiant! She and her mother couldn’t stop thanking Dr. Romo and the team for making this possible.
Anisa’s next surgery will be in 3-5 months, depending on her healing and school. Most likely, it will be in the beginning of summer. We’ll make the incision to release the ear from the side of the head, so that she can wear glasses for the first time, and insert a bone anchored hearing aid to boost her hearing. For now, she can only hear on one side, but soon she will be able to hear on both sides. We’ll also fix her earlobe, so that she can finally wear earrings! It’s a very exciting time for Anisa, whose eyes lit up at the thought of putting earrings in her ears. For most girls, getting earrings is exciting. To Anisa, it is nothing short of a miracle!
We asked Anisa what has changed for her since her surgery. She smiled and told us, “I feel good about myself. I feel free to go to school, so people won’t call me ‘One Ear’ anymore.” We are so happy for Anisa that she will finally be able to let go of this difficult part of her life and find a new confidence in herself.
“I used to get bullied at school every day in Tajikistan and America. Like, people used to say that I don’t have an ear, and they used to bully me every day and everywhere I go,” Anisa told us. She loves gymnastics and dreams of one day becoming an Olympic champion, but she was told so many times that no champions are missing an ear, that she has a hard time imagining herself ever realizing that dream.
Anisa’s mother was looking for help for Anisa for two years before she finally found the Little Baby Face Foundation while scrolling through Instagram. Both of them were so excited to apply.
Anisa’s first surgery took place in the beginning of April, which feels very fitting, as it was a holy time for many (Easter, Passover, and Ramadan). For all of us, her surgery symbolizes hope and new beginnings. We also recently had another 12-year-old girl with microtia with us for surgery this month, Veronica, from Mexico.
This first surgery was to create the framework of her ear. We’ve taken cartilage from her chest to construct the framework of an ear, which we set into the side of her head. Over the next few months, the wounds will heal and the skin around the inserted cartilage will shrink, further shaping the ear.
Anisa’s next surgery will be in 3-5 months, depending on her healing and school. Most likely, it will be in the beginning of summer. We’ll make the incision to release the ear from the side of the head, so that she can wear glasses for the first time, and insert a bone anchored hearing aid to boost her hearing. For now, she can only hear on one side, but soon she will be able to hear on both sides. We’ll also fix her earlobe, so that she can finally wear earrings! It’s a very exciting time for Anisa, whose eyes lit up at the thought of putting earrings in her ears. For most girls, getting earrings is exciting. To Anisa, it is nothing short of a miracle!
We asked Anisa what has changed for her since her surgery. She smiled and told us, “I feel good about myself. I feel free to go to school, so people won’t call me ‘One Ear’ anymore.” We are so happy for Anisa that she will finally be able to let go of this difficult part of her life and find a new confidence in herself.
Anisa is the sweetest, most articulate 12-year-old girl from Tajikistan. Born with microtia in her right ear, Anisa says it’s a dream come true to finally be getting surgery at the Little Baby Face Foundation to reconstruct her ear and improve her hearing.
“I used to get bullied at school every day in Tajikistan and America. Like, people used to say that I don’t have an ear, and they used to bully me every day and everywhere I go,” Anisa told us. She loves gymnastics and dreams of one day becoming an Olympic champion, but she was told so many times that no champions are missing an ear, that she has a hard time imagining herself ever realizing that dream.
Anisa’s mother was looking for help for Anisa for two years before she finally found the Little Baby Face Foundation while scrolling through Instagram. Both of them were so excited to apply.
Anisa’s first surgery took place in the beginning of April, which feels very fitting, as it was a holy time for many (Easter, Passover, and Ramadan). For all of us, her surgery symbolizes hope and new beginnings. We also recently had another 12-year-old girl with microtia with us for surgery this month, Veronica, from Mexico.
This first surgery was to create the framework of her ear. We’ve taken cartilage from her chest to construct the framework of an ear, which we set into the side of her head. Over the next few months, the wounds will heal and the skin around the inserted cartilage will shrink, further shaping the ear.
Surgery went off very smoothly, and at her post-op visit with Dr. Romo 6 days later, Anisa was in great spirits. For the next few weeks, Anisa will need to be careful with her ear as it heals. For younger children, recovery includes wearing the Romo Guard at all times for the first month, an ear covering designed by our very own Dr. Romo, founder of the Little Baby Face Foundation. At Anisa’s age, she will not have to cover or protect her ear, except to sleep if she thinks she may accidentally roll over onto that side. Dr. Romo playfully put a happy face sticker onto Anisa’s Romo Guard to remind her to have a good day. We don’t think she needed any reminders—Anisa was absolutely radiant! She and her mother couldn’t stop thanking Dr. Romo and the team for making this possible.
Anisa’s next surgery will be in 3-5 months, depending on her healing and school. Most likely, it will be in the beginning of summer. We’ll make the incision to release the ear from the side of the head, so that she can wear glasses for the first time, and insert a bone anchored hearing aid to boost her hearing. For now, she can only hear on one side, but soon she will be able to hear on both sides. We’ll also fix her earlobe, so that she can finally wear earrings! It’s a very exciting time for Anisa, whose eyes lit up at the thought of putting earrings in her ears. For most girls, getting earrings is exciting. To Anisa, it is nothing short of a miracle!
We asked Anisa what has changed for her since her surgery. She smiled and told us, “I feel good about myself. I feel free to go to school, so people won’t call me ‘One Ear’ anymore.” We are so happy for Anisa that she will finally be able to let go of this difficult part of her life and find a new confidence in herself.
“I used to get bullied at school every day in Tajikistan and America. Like, people used to say that I don’t have an ear, and they used to bully me every day and everywhere I go,” Anisa told us. She loves gymnastics and dreams of one day becoming an Olympic champion, but she was told so many times that no champions are missing an ear, that she has a hard time imagining herself ever realizing that dream.
Anisa’s mother was looking for help for Anisa for two years before she finally found the Little Baby Face Foundation while scrolling through Instagram. Both of them were so excited to apply.
Anisa’s first surgery took place in the beginning of April, which feels very fitting, as it was a holy time for many (Easter, Passover, and Ramadan). For all of us, her surgery symbolizes hope and new beginnings. We also recently had another 12-year-old girl with microtia with us for surgery this month, Veronica, from Mexico.
This first surgery was to create the framework of her ear. We’ve taken cartilage from her chest to construct the framework of an ear, which we set into the side of her head. Over the next few months, the wounds will heal and the skin around the inserted cartilage will shrink, further shaping the ear.
Anisa’s next surgery will be in 3-5 months, depending on her healing and school. Most likely, it will be in the beginning of summer. We’ll make the incision to release the ear from the side of the head, so that she can wear glasses for the first time, and insert a bone anchored hearing aid to boost her hearing. For now, she can only hear on one side, but soon she will be able to hear on both sides. We’ll also fix her earlobe, so that she can finally wear earrings! It’s a very exciting time for Anisa, whose eyes lit up at the thought of putting earrings in her ears. For most girls, getting earrings is exciting. To Anisa, it is nothing short of a miracle!
We asked Anisa what has changed for her since her surgery. She smiled and told us, “I feel good about myself. I feel free to go to school, so people won’t call me ‘One Ear’ anymore.” We are so happy for Anisa that she will finally be able to let go of this difficult part of her life and find a new confidence in herself.
Anisa is the sweetest, most articulate 12-year-old girl from Tajikistan. Born with microtia in her right ear, Anisa says it’s a dream come true to finally be getting surgery at the Little Baby Face Foundation to reconstruct her ear and improve her hearing.
“I used to get bullied at school every day in Tajikistan and America. Like, people used to say that I don’t have an ear, and they used to bully me every day and everywhere I go,” Anisa told us. She loves gymnastics and dreams of one day becoming an Olympic champion, but she was told so many times that no champions are missing an ear, that she has a hard time imagining herself ever realizing that dream.
Anisa’s mother was looking for help for Anisa for two years before she finally found the Little Baby Face Foundation while scrolling through Instagram. Both of them were so excited to apply.
Anisa’s first surgery took place in the beginning of April, which feels very fitting, as it was a holy time for many (Easter, Passover, and Ramadan). For all of us, her surgery symbolizes hope and new beginnings. We also recently had another 12-year-old girl with microtia with us for surgery this month, Veronica, from Mexico.
This first surgery was to create the framework of her ear. We’ve taken cartilage from her chest to construct the framework of an ear, which we set into the side of her head. Over the next few months, the wounds will heal and the skin around the inserted cartilage will shrink, further shaping the ear.
Surgery went off very smoothly, and at her post-op visit with Dr. Romo 6 days later, Anisa was in great spirits. For the next few weeks, Anisa will need to be careful with her ear as it heals. For younger children, recovery includes wearing the Romo Guard at all times for the first month, an ear covering designed by our very own Dr. Romo, founder of the Little Baby Face Foundation. At Anisa’s age, she will not have to cover or protect her ear, except to sleep if she thinks she may accidentally roll over onto that side. Dr. Romo playfully put a happy face sticker onto Anisa’s Romo Guard to remind her to have a good day. We don’t think she needed any reminders—Anisa was absolutely radiant! She and her mother couldn’t stop thanking Dr. Romo and the team for making this possible.
Anisa’s next surgery will be in 3-5 months, depending on her healing and school. Most likely, it will be in the beginning of summer. We’ll make the incision to release the ear from the side of the head, so that she can wear glasses for the first time, and insert a bone anchored hearing aid to boost her hearing. For now, she can only hear on one side, but soon she will be able to hear on both sides. We’ll also fix her earlobe, so that she can finally wear earrings! It’s a very exciting time for Anisa, whose eyes lit up at the thought of putting earrings in her ears. For most girls, getting earrings is exciting. To Anisa, it is nothing short of a miracle!
We asked Anisa what has changed for her since her surgery. She smiled and told us, “I feel good about myself. I feel free to go to school, so people won’t call me ‘One Ear’ anymore.” We are so happy for Anisa that she will finally be able to let go of this difficult part of her life and find a new confidence in herself.
“I used to get bullied at school every day in Tajikistan and America. Like, people used to say that I don’t have an ear, and they used to bully me every day and everywhere I go,” Anisa told us. She loves gymnastics and dreams of one day becoming an Olympic champion, but she was told so many times that no champions are missing an ear, that she has a hard time imagining herself ever realizing that dream.
Anisa’s mother was looking for help for Anisa for two years before she finally found the Little Baby Face Foundation while scrolling through Instagram. Both of them were so excited to apply.
Anisa’s first surgery took place in the beginning of April, which feels very fitting, as it was a holy time for many (Easter, Passover, and Ramadan). For all of us, her surgery symbolizes hope and new beginnings. We also recently had another 12-year-old girl with microtia with us for surgery this month, Veronica, from Mexico.
This first surgery was to create the framework of her ear. We’ve taken cartilage from her chest to construct the framework of an ear, which we set into the side of her head. Over the next few months, the wounds will heal and the skin around the inserted cartilage will shrink, further shaping the ear.
Anisa’s next surgery will be in 3-5 months, depending on her healing and school. Most likely, it will be in the beginning of summer. We’ll make the incision to release the ear from the side of the head, so that she can wear glasses for the first time, and insert a bone anchored hearing aid to boost her hearing. For now, she can only hear on one side, but soon she will be able to hear on both sides. We’ll also fix her earlobe, so that she can finally wear earrings! It’s a very exciting time for Anisa, whose eyes lit up at the thought of putting earrings in her ears. For most girls, getting earrings is exciting. To Anisa, it is nothing short of a miracle!
We asked Anisa what has changed for her since her surgery. She smiled and told us, “I feel good about myself. I feel free to go to school, so people won’t call me ‘One Ear’ anymore.” We are so happy for Anisa that she will finally be able to let go of this difficult part of her life and find a new confidence in herself.
If your child was born with Microtia and you’re looking for help, please contact us using the form below.
If your child was born with Microtia and you’re looking for help, please contact us using the form below.