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 Nattie’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 Nattie’s incredible journey with you.
Nattie traveled all the way from Ethiopia recently for his first visit at the Little Baby Face Foundation. Nattie was born with microtia, a condition that is defined by a small ear, sometimes impacting hearing.
Nattie’s father was incredibly thankful and relieved to be in New York City with his son for the treatment. In their home country of Ethiopia, this type of condition is thought to be the result of sin. It is so heavily engrained in their culture that Nattie’s father truly believed it, and of course, it contributed to a feeling of deep guilt and sadness, on top of the worry around getting Nattie the right care. He spent the visit repeating how grateful he was.
“We are so lucky to be here. This kind of thing in Ethiopia, it’s serious. Most people think this microtia is because of our sin. So for us it’s very complicated to live with,” his father explained.
Indeed, this is not the first time we’ve come across families coming from cultures that believe birth defects are the result of sin or are generally superstitious about these conditions. These families have an additional emotional burden to bear, and it’s why we find it so important to raise awareness. Some of them believe themselves to be responsible, and they could not be more relieved to discuss the science behind the conditions with directly our doctors.
Nattie’s father found the Little Baby Face Foundation on the internet and has been trying to get his son treatment since 2014.
Nattie used his English skills to tell us, “I am very glad to be in New York. It’s a very interesting place to visit.” He also had a big, complicit smile as we said he gets a big vacation from school. He says he did bring his textbooks along to study though!
At Nattie’s first visit, Dr. Romo traced several templates on a sheet of plastic for shaping and placement of the reconstructed ear. This allowed him to get an idea of how much cartilage to take from Nattie’s ribs to construct an ear.
Not long after, Nattie had his first surgery. Dr. Romo constructed the ear structure and put it in place, where it lays flat against his head. His second stage of treatment will be an incision to release the ear from the head. Dr. Romo will also set the non-mictrotic ear back a little for balance, that way he will not have to bring the microtic ear as far forward.
Nattie’s first surgery is currently healing beautifully. He was so brave! He will be back with us in 6 months for his second surgery to release the ear. We are looking forward to welcoming him and his father back in our offices in the New Year.
Nattie’s father was incredibly thankful and relieved to be in New York City with his son for the treatment. In their home country of Ethiopia, this type of condition is thought to be the result of sin. It is so heavily engrained in their culture that Nattie’s father truly believed it, and of course, it contributed to a feeling of deep guilt and sadness, on top of the worry around getting Nattie the right care. He spent the visit repeating how grateful he was.
“We are so lucky to be here. This kind of thing in Ethiopia, it’s serious. Most people think this microtia is because of our sin. So for us it’s very complicated to live with,” his father explained.
Nattie’s father found the Little Baby Face Foundation on the internet and has been trying to get his son treatment since 2014.
Nattie used his English skills to tell us, “I am very glad to be in New York. It’s a very interesting place to visit.” He also had a big, complicit smile as we said he gets a big vacation from school. He says he did bring his textbooks along to study though!
At Nattie’s first visit, Dr. Romo traced several templates on a sheet of plastic for shaping and placement of the reconstructed ear. This allowed him to get an idea of how much cartilage to take from Nattie’s ribs to construct an ear.
Nattie’s first surgery is currently healing beautifully. He was so brave! He will be back with us in 6 months for his second surgery to release the ear. We are looking forward to welcoming him and his father back in our offices in the New Year.
Nattie traveled all the way from Ethiopia recently for his first visit at the Little Baby Face Foundation. Nattie was born with microtia, a condition that is defined by a small ear, sometimes impacting hearing.
Nattie’s father was incredibly thankful and relieved to be in New York City with his son for the treatment. In their home country of Ethiopia, this type of condition is thought to be the result of sin. It is so heavily engrained in their culture that Nattie’s father truly believed it, and of course, it contributed to a feeling of deep guilt and sadness, on top of the worry around getting Nattie the right care. He spent the visit repeating how grateful he was.
“We are so lucky to be here. This kind of thing in Ethiopia, it’s serious. Most people think this microtia is because of our sin. So for us it’s very complicated to live with,” his father explained.
Indeed, this is not the first time we’ve come across families coming from cultures that believe birth defects are the result of sin or are generally superstitious about these conditions. These families have an additional emotional burden to bear, and it’s why we find it so important to raise awareness. Some of them believe themselves to be responsible, and they could not be more relieved to discuss the science behind the conditions with directly our doctors.
Nattie’s father found the Little Baby Face Foundation on the internet and has been trying to get his son treatment since 2014.
Nattie used his English skills to tell us, “I am very glad to be in New York. It’s a very interesting place to visit.” He also had a big, complicit smile as we said he gets a big vacation from school. He says he did bring his textbooks along to study though!
At Nattie’s first visit, Dr. Romo traced several templates on a sheet of plastic for shaping and placement of the reconstructed ear. This allowed him to get an idea of how much cartilage to take from Nattie’s ribs to construct an ear.
Not long after, Nattie had his first surgery. Dr. Romo constructed the ear structure and put it in place, where it lays flat against his head. His second stage of treatment will be an incision to release the ear from the head. Dr. Romo will also set the non-mictrotic ear back a little for balance, that way he will not have to bring the microtic ear as far forward.
Nattie’s first surgery is currently healing beautifully. He was so brave! He will be back with us in 6 months for his second surgery to release the ear. We are looking forward to welcoming him and his father back in our offices in the New Year.
Nattie’s father was incredibly thankful and relieved to be in New York City with his son for the treatment. In their home country of Ethiopia, this type of condition is thought to be the result of sin. It is so heavily engrained in their culture that Nattie’s father truly believed it, and of course, it contributed to a feeling of deep guilt and sadness, on top of the worry around getting Nattie the right care. He spent the visit repeating how grateful he was.
“We are so lucky to be here. This kind of thing in Ethiopia, it’s serious. Most people think this microtia is because of our sin. So for us it’s very complicated to live with,” his father explained.
Nattie’s father found the Little Baby Face Foundation on the internet and has been trying to get his son treatment since 2014.
Nattie used his English skills to tell us, “I am very glad to be in New York. It’s a very interesting place to visit.” He also had a big, complicit smile as we said he gets a big vacation from school. He says he did bring his textbooks along to study though!
At Nattie’s first visit, Dr. Romo traced several templates on a sheet of plastic for shaping and placement of the reconstructed ear. This allowed him to get an idea of how much cartilage to take from Nattie’s ribs to construct an ear.
Nattie’s first surgery is currently healing beautifully. He was so brave! He will be back with us in 6 months for his second surgery to release the ear. We are looking forward to welcoming him and his father back in our offices in the New Year.
Nattie traveled all the way from Ethiopia recently for his first visit at the Little Baby Face Foundation. Nattie was born with microtia, a condition that is defined by a small ear, sometimes impacting hearing.
Nattie’s father was incredibly thankful and relieved to be in New York City with his son for the treatment. In their home country of Ethiopia, this type of condition is thought to be the result of sin. It is so heavily engrained in their culture that Nattie’s father truly believed it, and of course, it contributed to a feeling of deep guilt and sadness, on top of the worry around getting Nattie the right care. He spent the visit repeating how grateful he was.
“We are so lucky to be here. This kind of thing in Ethiopia, it’s serious. Most people think this microtia is because of our sin. So for us it’s very complicated to live with,” his father explained.
Indeed, this is not the first time we’ve come across families coming from cultures that believe birth defects are the result of sin or are generally superstitious about these conditions. These families have an additional emotional burden to bear, and it’s why we find it so important to raise awareness. Some of them believe themselves to be responsible, and they could not be more relieved to discuss the science behind the conditions with directly our doctors.
Nattie’s father found the Little Baby Face Foundation on the internet and has been trying to get his son treatment since 2014.
Nattie used his English skills to tell us, “I am very glad to be in New York. It’s a very interesting place to visit.” He also had a big, complicit smile as we said he gets a big vacation from school. He says he did bring his textbooks along to study though!
At Nattie’s first visit, Dr. Romo traced several templates on a sheet of plastic for shaping and placement of the reconstructed ear. This allowed him to get an idea of how much cartilage to take from Nattie’s ribs to construct an ear.
Not long after, Nattie had his first surgery. Dr. Romo constructed the ear structure and put it in place, where it lays flat against his head. His second stage of treatment will be an incision to release the ear from the head. Dr. Romo will also set the non-mictrotic ear back a little for balance, that way he will not have to bring the microtic ear as far forward.
Nattie’s first surgery is currently healing beautifully. He was so brave! He will be back with us in 6 months for his second surgery to release the ear. We are looking forward to welcoming him and his father back in our offices in the New Year.
Nattie’s father was incredibly thankful and relieved to be in New York City with his son for the treatment. In their home country of Ethiopia, this type of condition is thought to be the result of sin. It is so heavily engrained in their culture that Nattie’s father truly believed it, and of course, it contributed to a feeling of deep guilt and sadness, on top of the worry around getting Nattie the right care. He spent the visit repeating how grateful he was.
“We are so lucky to be here. This kind of thing in Ethiopia, it’s serious. Most people think this microtia is because of our sin. So for us it’s very complicated to live with,” his father explained.
Nattie’s father found the Little Baby Face Foundation on the internet and has been trying to get his son treatment since 2014.
Nattie used his English skills to tell us, “I am very glad to be in New York. It’s a very interesting place to visit.” He also had a big, complicit smile as we said he gets a big vacation from school. He says he did bring his textbooks along to study though!
At Nattie’s first visit, Dr. Romo traced several templates on a sheet of plastic for shaping and placement of the reconstructed ear. This allowed him to get an idea of how much cartilage to take from Nattie’s ribs to construct an ear.
Nattie’s first surgery is currently healing beautifully. He was so brave! He will be back with us in 6 months for his second surgery to release the ear. We are looking forward to welcoming him and his father back in our offices in the New Year.
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.