My Nephew Nick's Surgery Journey to Better Hearing
Hi, I'm Monica Moreira and I'm creating this for my Nephew Nicholas Striano. He is going across the country for a MAJOR, LONG, and INVASIVE Surgery. Press play to hear and see his doctor, Dr. Lewin explain.
Nick's surgery is not only extremely long and invasive, But also across the country in California for 3-4 weeks. FYI-the video I am attaching is quite surgically graphic for you to understand the depth as to what Nicholas and Sue, Pete,and Nina will be going through.
If you know the Strianos (Sue, Pete, Nick & Nina), then you know they are always there for everyone. Pete and Sue would jump to help any of their loved ones and always do. SO I thought since, we can't physically be there for them while they're going on their Cross Country Surgery Journey for Nicholas' Lewin Ear Reconstruction Surgery in California for 3-4 weeks. We can send them our love and help through donations.
Nick is now 15 years old! To look at Nick and talk to him, you would not have any idea that he was about to go across the country to California for 3-4 weeks for a Life Changing Surgery- The Lewin Ear Reconstruction Surgery (Left Click on the Underlined words for Links explaining different things)for his Microtia which Nick was born with and has been living with his whole young life.
The reason I am starting this GoFundME:
I hope Sue and Pete don't mind me saying so, but this whole Journey is a VERY costly one. I think the best way we can help them is by donating money to help subsidize the enormous cost of this Life Changing Surgery Journey.
I don't think people realize all the things that Sue & Pete have to do in order to get this surgery for Nick. Which of course, no matter what they would do.
Here's Just an idea of some of the Expenses I can think of without asking Sue & Pete-So, I'm sure there's more: -
*Obviously cost of surgery ( insurance is partially covering)
-Airfare- 4 tickets to and from California for Pete, Sue, Nick, and Nina
-Rental Car (and have you seen the gas prices in California!)
- Lodging-1 week at an Extended Stay type of hotel very close to the doctor and hospital.
*Nicholas can't be too far away that first week and needs to be able to rest comfortably after his long surgery. Also this way Sue can still cook so they're not eating out 3 times a day and do Laundry.
-Lodging 2-3 more weeks at another Extended Stay type of place.
-Having to almost stock themselves up from scratch in California with the things that we all normally have at home
-General Day to Day Living Costs when not home.
Sue & Pete have been waiting/hoping for this since they were aware of it, 15 years ago. But that never stopped Sue and Pete from making sure Nicholas did all he wanted to and could (see a few pics of Nick's Passions growing up that he is still involved in today!). But, finally this August it is happening! Nicholas is old enough and the Straino family is ready to relocate and go across the country to California for 3-4 weeks for the Lewin Ear Reconstruction Surgery and Implant.
I am adding some extra photos and information below about the surgery as well as the links I included.
If you are getting this and know Sue, Pete, Nick, or Nina. You know they are always there for their family and friends. They are always there to help anyone who needs it and in whatever way they need help. But since they will be in California and we can't offer help the way we usually do, like all make dinners for Pete and the kids to eat, like she has done for countless others. We can't help out around their house, like Pete has done for so many others.
So again, I'm asking that you please consider DONATING to My Nephew Nick's Journey to his Ear Reconstruction Surgery. Please share this gofundme would like to or could help out the Striano Family. Thank you!
Baseball, Baseball, Baseball...
Quads, dirtbikes, outside all day/night...
Family First
All Nick's Cousin's Love him SOOOOOO MUCH
Why go to California when we are between NYC and CHOP?
Other than the fact that Dr. Lewin created this procedure and has performed countless successful surgeries on children and adults.
It is her technique and success using, what covers the implant- the "TPF FLAP" is actually THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT of ear reconstruction.
What is TPF FLAP?
It is the thin, translucent, delicate tissue containing blood vessels and nerves that must be painstakingly dissected away from the overlying scalp. The flap does not grow back, but there are several more layers of tissue below the flap.
So WHAT is MICROTIA?
Microtia is a rare condition. There are very few surgeons who can competently treat Microtia. Microtia is a condition in which the ear does not develop properly, causing a child's ear to be small or malformed. But microtia is not just a "small ear".
Microtia is a very complex condition that needs a multifaceted surgical approach to treat the reconstruction of the ear, the hearing loss, and the psychological aspects for each patient on an individual basis. Until the day their child or family member was born with Microtia. Most people don't even know what Microtia is or that this condition even existed.