Miss-Delectable
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Deaf child to undergo breakthrough procedure | KVOA.com | Tucson, Arizona
Cole Thorne is not even 3 years old yet, and has been through so much already.
Diagnosed with Spina Bifida before he was born, he has suffered one complication after another.
Cole was born deaf and the only possible treatment, to give him hearing, will require the family to travel to Ohio.
"They recommended we terminate the pregnancy. We decided not to," says Jennifer Barker, Cole's mother.
"He spent 3 weeks in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.) They had to repair his back."
In the hospital Cole had problems eating and his tiny tummy ruptured.
"There's been so much happened."
At 2 1/2 months old, he had more feeding and breathing issues.
He developed hydrocephalus, a build up of fluid on the brain.
"So he was scheduled for a shunt surgery so he has that now that controls any type of extra fluid in his brain."
Cole was on life support at one time for two weeks. When he came off, they had to put a g-tube in his stomach.
"When you try to feed him by mouth he aspirates," his mom tells us.
Doctors in Phoenix told the family that cochlear implants wouldn't work for Cole, but Cole's great-grandfather sent his mother a newspaper article from Cincinnati about a doctor "that was doing auditory brain stem implants which implant in the brain stem versus the ear."
The team in Ohio determined Cole IS a candidate for the procedure. They want perform the procedure on both ears before he turns three because language development is critical at this age.
"And so when he does get these implants and they turn them on for the first time. He's going to be like an infant."
While the surgery will only take a day, healing and follow-up care will keep them in Ohio for at least a month.
Cole's mom isn't sure how much insurance will cover and they need help with transportation and lodging.
Despite all his suffering, Cole's mom says he's the happiest little boy.
"His smile can light anybody's day up."
The procedure is scheduled for mid October. The family will have to drive up there because with so many medical supplies and equipment flying is just too difficult. If you want to help Cole with his medical mission you visit his website:
http://www.babababies.com/view/viewt2.cfm?SITEID=64080
Cole Thorne is not even 3 years old yet, and has been through so much already.
Diagnosed with Spina Bifida before he was born, he has suffered one complication after another.
Cole was born deaf and the only possible treatment, to give him hearing, will require the family to travel to Ohio.
"They recommended we terminate the pregnancy. We decided not to," says Jennifer Barker, Cole's mother.
"He spent 3 weeks in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.) They had to repair his back."
In the hospital Cole had problems eating and his tiny tummy ruptured.
"There's been so much happened."
At 2 1/2 months old, he had more feeding and breathing issues.
He developed hydrocephalus, a build up of fluid on the brain.
"So he was scheduled for a shunt surgery so he has that now that controls any type of extra fluid in his brain."
Cole was on life support at one time for two weeks. When he came off, they had to put a g-tube in his stomach.
"When you try to feed him by mouth he aspirates," his mom tells us.
Doctors in Phoenix told the family that cochlear implants wouldn't work for Cole, but Cole's great-grandfather sent his mother a newspaper article from Cincinnati about a doctor "that was doing auditory brain stem implants which implant in the brain stem versus the ear."
The team in Ohio determined Cole IS a candidate for the procedure. They want perform the procedure on both ears before he turns three because language development is critical at this age.
"And so when he does get these implants and they turn them on for the first time. He's going to be like an infant."
While the surgery will only take a day, healing and follow-up care will keep them in Ohio for at least a month.
Cole's mom isn't sure how much insurance will cover and they need help with transportation and lodging.
Despite all his suffering, Cole's mom says he's the happiest little boy.
"His smile can light anybody's day up."
The procedure is scheduled for mid October. The family will have to drive up there because with so many medical supplies and equipment flying is just too difficult. If you want to help Cole with his medical mission you visit his website:
http://www.babababies.com/view/viewt2.cfm?SITEID=64080
