Hope For My Child’s Future...
“When I first saw Eddie’s face, words can’t describe the devastation I
felt. Hope for my child’s future was replaced by a feeling of
powerlessness. How could we protect him from the pain he would find?”
“The Little Baby Face has given Eddie a beautiful face and given us hope
for his future. Thank you, thank you, thank you...”
— Sandra Hobbs, Winslow, Arizona
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Testimonials
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The Bittersweet Experience of Having a Child with Microtia
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Eight-year-old Jocelyn Castro (left) and her mother, Loyda Nieves
From the moment a couple discovers they are "expecting," they can hardly resist wondering what the sex of the baby will be, which parent he or she will look like, and most importantly, whether the baby will be normal.
When I became pregnant of my first child, I was 16 years old. Although I was young, I took every precaution to ensure that my child would be healthy. I kept every prenatal appointment, took daily vitamins and iron, and ate the proper foods. Unfortunately, something went wrong, and I couldn't do anything to prevent it. My daughter, Jocelyn, was born with unilateral microtia.
It was very hard for me to deal with the situation because it was my first child, and I didn't know anything about this abnormality. After taking Jocelyn to several hospitals, including the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Columbia Presbysterian in New York, and finally to New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, I was referred to a plastic surgeon who explained in detail the possible causes of this abnormality, and assured me it was not my fault. Jocelyn underwent reconstuctive surgery, and, thanks to this wonderful doctor, now has a normal-looking ear.
I have always taught Jocelyn to be confident, but even I couldn't bear the pain she endured when peers made fun of her appearance. I can't imagine her having to go through life hiding, feeling ashamed of her small ear or being hurt by what others might say about her abnormality. But the worst is behind us now, and my daughter's future is looking brighter than ever.
We are very grateful and fortunate to have secured the resources to pay for the operations. But other families may not know where or how to go about getting the help they need. The Little Baby Face Foundation will be instrumental in this objective.
- Loyda Nieves
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