We are the Farley Family! An adoptive family of 4 kiddos! Three girls from China and one young man from Taiwan. Our last to come home is Lucy. Lucy was born in China and is currently 3 1/2 years old! She was born with Microtia and Atresia. She basically has no outer ears, ear drums or ear canals. She was born deaf.
Lucy came home to Kentucky last September. Within a few weeks Lucy was fitted with a BAHA (bone anchored hearing aid) and Lucy heard for the first time!
Needless to say, Lucy had no real language but we have been working hard to get her caught up in that department! She now attends Lexington Hearing and Speech Center through Fayette County's Early Start Program. We are so proud of the progress she is making! Everyday Lucy has new words and has even put 4 and 5 words together!!! Love our girl...she's trying to talk!!!
Lucy now has the opportunity to have ear surgery to provide her with ears! Her first surgery will be the left ear. Lucy's facial nerve is totally exposed on the inside so the left side will be just an outer ear. But can you imagine the difference having an ear will make!!! (not to mention that she wears glasses that have to be strapped to her head....since she has no ears) Lucy will have a BAHA stem implant on her left side so that her BAHA will snap onto a stem placed behind her left ear. Her first surgery (left ear) will be September 27th....just a month away!!!
Here is a photo of what Lucy currently has as a left ear.....but not for much longer!
We have been fundraising like crazy to raise the money needed for this first surgery. Our maximum out of pocket will be $22,750 not including travel. Lucy's surgeon is in California! He does amazing work and we feel very blessed to be able to have him make Lucy's ear!!!
Here is Lucy's right side....she has a little more tissue on this side and a little pocket...but no canal.
Lucy's second surgery will be approximately 5 to 6 months after the first this will allow time for healing! Her right ear will provide her with an outer ear, ear drum and ear canal!!! She will have some natural hearing on the right side!!! So with the BAHA on the left and natural hearing on the right, Lucy will have directional hearing! She will be able to tell where the sounds are coming from!! What a miracle! What amazing work these doctors can do! We are blessed to be able to give Lucy hearing and ears!!
Lucy's second surgery requires an additional surgeon and a different facility so all monies are due up front. Our projected need for the second surgery is approximately $65,000. (not including travel) So, you can see our need is great! But our God is greater! We are so eager to make this a reality for Lucy. For her to have the chance for a normal life.....a great quality of life. For something that most of us take for granted......ears.
Here is a video that shows you what Lucy will have done! It's simply amazing...it's about 10 minutes long but so worth the time! This is Lucy's surgeon Dr. John Reinisch!!!
So, welcome to the fundraising department! We are selling t-shirts to raise money...check out the cuteness right here!!! Lucy is sporting her very own t-shirt!
We are selling these for $15 each...and we DO ship!! $5 shipping for one shirt and an additional $2.50 for each additional shirt! (if you are interested in having a Lucy shirt of your own...you can leave a comment on this post with your contact information or you can email me directly at cloggingcyn@aol.com)
Do you enjoy a good motorcycle ride? More of a bicycle person??? We have an awesome event this weekend in Georgetown! "Be a Hear'o - Ride for Lucy"...check out the details listed below!
We have been so blessed along this journey by so many people wanting to help our Lucy! We want to thank each and every single person that is making a difference in the life of this little girl of ours!
If you aren't a t-shirt person, don't ride bikes, live out of town??? But you still want to help? You can visit Lucy's Indiegogo.com site! Just click on the link to donate towards Lucy's surgery! (there's also a direct link on the right hand side of our blog)
We are so grateful to be on this journey of a lifetime for our youngen' and feel so blessed that God called us to be her Mommy and Daddy!
What a ride! Hang on Lucy!
We would greatly appreciate all prayers for Lucy, surgery, safety, healing, funding...etc.
Thanks for taking your time to read about our youngen'..please feel free to share Lucy's story!!
Stay tuned and follow along on Lucy's quest for ears!!!
Here's the rest of the gang! Rockin' Lucy shirts!
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