Max’s condition is called microtia which means his ear didn’t fully develop in the womb. Sara and Duane (mom & dad) didn’t know about it until Max was born on January 22, 2017. In Max’s case, his ear canal didn’t develop either (they called it his “little ear” growing up) and he has no hearing on that side and requires a hearing aid. 

When he was 4, Sara and Duane made the decision to get Max a life changing surgery with the hope that a prosthetic ear would increase his chance at a “normal” life; a life free from bullying, but also to change the things that we take for granted everyday. For example, without the surgery and his ear, Max would require special eyeglasses otherwise the arms wouldn’t have a place to sit on his right side. 

Part of the surgery included the placement of a cochlear implant to replace the Baha headband Max had been wearing since birth. 

No one knows why the implant is being rejected now because as far as anyone knows, Max’s ear hasn’t had any “trauma”, but because it’s being rejected the skin around the rejection site is starting to die which makes it a little more serious. 

Max is resilient, kind and funny and often acts as his own advocate; educating his peers and anyone else about his ear and his hearing. During recovery he will have to limit some of the activities that he loves, like baseball and swimming, but you can bet that during that time his infectious smile will never waver.