Cochlear, Oticon Medical, and Sophono Sponsor the First Annual Microtia and Atresia Family Picnic in Yonkers, New York Through Ear Community…

With great pleasure I would like to thank Cochlear Americas, Oticon Medical and Sophono for sponsoring our summer picnic that was just held in Yonkers, New York for Microtia and Atresia families (including Hemifacial Microsomia, Treacher Collins and Goldenhar Syndrome families).  Our event would not have been possible if it were not for our sponsors.  Thanks to you for sponsoring our picnic, our kids had a wonderful time playing with each other, were able to enjoy some fun entertainment and activities and enjoy a delicious catered lunch.  Thank you also for helping educate our families more about hearing loss and the technology available that can help make hearing loss manageable.  I would also like to thank Oticon Medical for making it possible for me to be at the NY picnic so that I could meet so many of the families whom I have been speaking with since founding our support group.  Thank you!  A little over 100 people attended our picnic this Saturday!  We had families travel from Ohio, New Jersey and from all over the state of New York including a family from Columbia.  In addition to our families and individuals who attended our picnic, Dr. Thomas Romo and Dr. Russell Griffiths were also among our families.  Dr. Thomas Romo is one of NYC’s finest plastic surgeons, is the Founder of the Little Baby Face Foundation and the Director of facial and reconstructive plastic surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital and Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital.   Dr. Russell Griffiths has his private practice in Boise, Idaho and specializes in a variety of facial plastic surgery including ear reconstruction.  Thank you to Alan Raffauf (VP of Mktg. for Oticon Medical), Kerry Roesch (North American District Sales Manager for Sophono), and Alison Mendez (NY Territory Sales Rep for Cochlear) for being at our picnic.  I would like to thank Daisy Alcivar Garrison for being our NY picnic host and for organizing our event.  Daisy would like to carry on the torch and host a picnic in New York for Microtia families every year.  Thank you to Pee Wee the clown who was our awesome magician, snow cone maker, DJ, face painter/balloon maker and popcorn maker.  Yep, Pee Wee did it all!  The kids had a wonderful time listening to him and dancing and playing games.  Pee Wee gave us an amazing discount on everything he did for us which is very much appreciated. I would also like to say a very special thank you to Marcos of Valentina’s Pizzaria who catered our delicious Italian lunch (rigatoni, chicken parm, garlic balls, salad, french fries, and drinks). Marcos not only catered our event at his cost (helping give Oticon Medical a 50% discount for covering the food), but Marcos snuk in some very delicious cannolis as a special treat for all of the parents to eat and asked a friend to cater some delicious cupcakes for the kids. Marcos applauds what we are doing for the Microtia/Atresia community and he has offered to cater next year’s NY picnic for FREE and he also would like to do this for many years to come to support Ear Community and the Yonkers, NY community. Marcos and PeeWee, thank you for helping make our Microtia/Atresia picnic in New York so special for these families and especially for our kids. Thank you for giving back to the community!  I would also like to thank Build-A-Bear for donating a fully stuffed and dressed bear that one lucky little girl won during our raffle.  I have a feeling this little girl just got a new best friend! I would also like to thank the Ear to Ear Foundation for asking the Oriental Trading Company for some fun goodies for the kids. Thank you to the Oriental Trading Company for those goodies provided and the kids loved them.  Thank you! I will always remember the experiences these picnics provide.  I can’t tell you all how very nice it was to finally meet everyone, watch the kids play together and have fun, see families mingling with medical professionals in a relaxed setting and learning about hearing technology in an unbiased manner. Thank you to everyone involved for helping me find a way to bring Microtia/Atresia families together.

Melissa Tumblin

Founder of Ear Community and the Microtia and Atresia Support Group on Facebook