Merel's Medpor Ear Reconstruction Journey

Merel is a sweet and energetic girl who came from the Netherlands to Dr. Reinisch for Medpor ear reconstruction surgery in September 2014. She was born with Microtia and Atresia and wears a hearing aid. Mandy, Merel's mother, sought reconstructive surgery options for Merel many years in the Netherlands and Europe, only to find the rib cartilage option available. Mandy did not liked this method because she feels having two surgeries with hospitalization would be to much for her daughter. When she found out about Dr. Reinisch's Medpor recontruction method, she was extremely happy but disappointed at the same time that not one doctor in the Netherlands told her this was an option. She met Dr. Reinisch at the annual Atresia Microtia conference in the Netherlands and planned Merel's surgery in September of 2014. We documented Merel's journey from the Netherlands to Los Angeles for her ear reconstruction with Dr. Reinisch. Please see the video below. 

Mandy is now a devoted advocate for Microtia and Atresia children. She hosted the 2015 Microtia Atresia conference in the Netherlands where families came from all over Europe. For more information on a general support group and support group in the Europe Region, please follow the group/pages Mandy manages on Facebook: "Microtia Europe," "Microtie Atresie Nederland," and "Medpor for Microtia Support Group."

June 26, 2015 Update:

It has now been 9 months after Merel's surgery. Mandy wrote to Dr. Reinisch letting Dr. Reinisch know Merel is very happy and proud of her ear. Below is a photo of Merel seen at the April Netherlands conference this year.