Your Dollars in Action
Carson, Tulsa, OK
Carson is a seven-year-old boy who lives in Oklahoma with his mom, dad and little sister Adrian. He is quite a sportsman who loves to play soccer and basketball and has a green belt in tae kwon do. When Carson was just 10 months old, he had to have tubes put in his ears. These tubes stayed in his ears too long and fell out, leaving a hole that did not close on its own. Chronic ear infections caused some hearing loss. Last September, Carson underwent tympanoplasty surgery to correct this problem.
Tympanoplasty involves rebuilding the eardrum. Cartilage was taken from Carson's ear and grafted over the hole during this outpatient surgery. The hardest part of the recovery for Carson was not being able to participate in any of his activities for six weeks.
This is Carson's first year without ear infections since his birth. He is regaining the hearing loss he has experienced and will continue to improve. Carson can now swim without any worry.
Carson's dad, Todd, learned about the UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation while listening to a sports radio program. After discussing it with Carson's mom, Carol, they researched the Web site and applied for a grant. The Foundation provided a $5,000 grant for the surgery. "We are incredibly grateful," says Carol. "It is very frustrating and hard on parents when they are unable to meet their child's needs. This grant has made a big difference in our family and Carson is leading a normal life."
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