Local kindergartener hears clearly for the first time thanks to innovative ear surgery :: WRAL.com

Imagine spending five years hearing everything as if your head was underwater with a pair of headphones on. You can feel the vibrations, but you’re unable to make out anyone’s words clearly.

That was five-year old Eliza Fowler’s reality. Now, with the help of creative technology, she is able to start kindergarten with new ears.

Eliza was born with a rare ear condition called bilateral microtia. Commonly known as “small ear syndrome,” microtia is an underdeveloped outer ear and ear canal. Researchers estimate that one in every 3,800 babies in the United States has this birth defect, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Eliza’s mother, Jennifer Fowler, explained, “She doesn’t have an ear canal, and I always say it looks like a butterfly wing.”

There are four classifications of microtia, and conditions range from having a small or underdeveloped ear to having no ear at all. The ear drum and ear canal may be partially formed or completely absent, according to Cedars-Sinai, a nonprofit hospital and research center in Los Angeles, California.

Eliza has grade three microtia – known as severe microtia, where the ear is small and peanut-shaped. Patients often have a partial earlobe, but there is no external ear canal or ear drum. This is the most common form of microtia. 

At only nine days old, Eliza had her first surgery. Soon after, the family was introduced to Lewin Ear Reconstruction, a California practice that specializes in microtia. The family used FaceTime to speak with Dr. Sheryl Lewin, a plastic surgeon who uses the Porus Implant Ear Reconstruction (PIER) technique developed by the surgeon herself. The surgery helps to minimize scarring and create more natural appearing ears.

Most surgeons will not perform reconstructive surgery until the ear is fully developed, which happens around age five or six. So, for the past five years, Eliza has used a bone-anchored hearing aid, known as a BAHA, under a headband she wears daily.

In preparation for Eliza’s big surgery, mother and daughter made several trips to California to see Lewin.

In June, after surgery to rebuild her ear, Eliza received a cochlear Osia implant. The implant sits under the skin, directly on her skull. It sends sound vibrations through the bone, bypassing the middle ear, and allows her to hear. The surgery took 10 hours to complete.

The moment Eliza heard her mother’s voice clearly, it brought tears to her eyes, and her family and surgical team sang happy birthday to her new ears. Eliza said sometimes she misses her headband, though.

“She loves her new big ear,” Jennifer Fowler said. “She’ll look at it all the time. She checks on it every day. She’s like oh my gosh, it’s just so beautiful.”

Eliza said she’s able to hear sounds more clearly, saying “S, ssss, snake.” Her mother said higher frequency sounds are something she is still getting used to.

Jennifer Fowler said one of the most impactful moments after surgery was Eliza taking a bath. She said her daughter started splashing in the tub, and her face lit up.

According to her mother, Eliza exclaimed, “Woah, I really like this!”

“I was like, oh my gosh, you have never heard that because you couldn’t wear your BAHAs in the water,” Jennifer Fowler explained.

“Yeah, and I can play with my Barbies in the bathtub,” Eliza added, finally being able to hear as her mermaid dolls glided through the water.

Eliza has two dogs, Luna and Lincoln, whose barks she is able to hear more clearly after receiving her implant. She also has a lot of hobbies that she has recently had to put on hold due to her medical traveling and healing.

Eliza loves horseback riding, ice cream and playing on her iPad. Her implant can directly link with her iPad, so she doesn’t have to wear any additional headphones. Her mother said Eliza can’t wait to get back to horseback riding soon.

Eliza has two siblings that traveled with her on some of her surgery stays.

Jennifer Fowler, who worked night shifts as a remote OBGYN triage nurse until May, said between coordinating her work schedule with her husband’s and family appointments, the travel became difficult. She said she is grateful to be able to take a step back.

Eliza’s second and final surgery is scheduled for Oct. 16, when the family plans to stay in California for 11 days. Jennifer Fowler credits finding community and building relationships with navigating her daughter’s diagnosis.

Eliza said she would like to become a doctor who helps kids with broken bones, or a veterinarian, when she is older.