3 Months

Brennan is a little over 3 months post-op! People say, "3 months already?"... but really, with everything going on, it has been the hardest and longest 3 months of my life.
But, we are surviving!!!
Here is a recent picture of his ear canal! His skin graft site is completely covered by hair now and healing great!
Many people have asked about his "little ear" being in front of his ear canal. He was born with his "little ear" slightly more forward than the actual postition of where the "big ear" should have been. So, when he gets his new "big ear" it will be behind the ear canal, just like his other "normal ear."


Close up picts.


Brennan's next surgery is set for March 1st, exactly 5 weeks from today...yikes. B has his pre-op appt. on Feb 9th... this is a big day because we will be meeting with the doctor and she will go over every detail of the surgery. We have done so much research about this surgery but it will hit home to us when we go in and meet with the doctor and she talks with us about Brennan's procedure.

We are planning to do the Medpor surgery the way we have researched. In a nutshell: It's an 8-10 hour procedure where they will remove his "little ear" and use parts of it for his "big ear." She will use two pieces of medical medpor plastic and create an ear out of it and attatch it to his skull around his ear canal. She will then use a large piece of living membrane under his skin (scalp) on the left side of his head just over his "little ear" and place it over the medpor plastic. Finally, a skin graft site from either under B's arm or upper thigh area will be used to cover the ear. It's a very detailed and delicate surgery.

I am now learning of a new technique the Dr. is using for the skin graft site. She is doing a new technique that uses a balloon product somewhere on the patient's head near the ear and place it in during a surgery. The balloon product will stay in for a month to stretch the skin. Then, the skin that is stretched will be used for the skin graft site during the medpor surgery, one month later, instead of using skin from the arm or thigh.
We are not sure if that surgery is even an option for B. We will find out everything on the 9th.

Having just learned of this new technique, I am stressing out a bit since it changes all our plans. It would mean 2 surgeries about a month apart instead of just 1 surgery. Although, obviously if this new technique is better for Brennan in the long run, we will decide to do it.
So please keep us in your prayers for Feb. 9th when we discuss everything with B's surgeon.
Thank you so much!!!