At age 4, Dawson Joseph continues a journey he has been on since birth —one that only a small percentage of childen ever experience.
Early in 2021, Devin and Tatum Joseph found out they were expecting their first child, and on Nov. 8 that year, their little bundle of joy, Dawson, was born.
The Josephs have been on an unexpected journey with Dawson since his birth, as he was born with microtia, a rare condition in which the external ear is very small and not properly formed.
It can also affect the hearing, as sound cannot get through to the inside of the ear. Some parts of the inner ear may not have formed properly either.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in every 3,800 babies are born with this condition, though statistics vary to one in 12,000.
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“We’ve been talking to doctors about Dawson’s surgery since he was eight weeks old," said his mother, Tatum Joseph. "We realized just how much the condition was affecting him around age 2 when he started learning to talk and couldn’t tell which direction sound was coming from.
"If he called from across the house asking where we were, we couldn’t say around 'here’ because his hearing affects his ability to locate sound," she continued. "We would have to give him the exact location as in bedroom, living room, kitchen or bathroom. "
The Josephs say they were told they would have to wait until Dawson was 9-12 years old before a surgery could be performed.
Since the ear defect is so rare, there are limited options in the surrounding areas for help, so the parents began researching on how to get Dawson the professional help he needs.
While researching, they met another couple who had a son with the same condition and told them about Dr. John Reinisch, a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California.
In 1991, Reinisch developed MEDPOR ear reconstruction, where he "creates a polyethylene framework and grafts a patient’s own skin over the structure," according to his website.
Tatum Joseph said that family has given them "so much hope and encouragement."
"His mom assured us that there is a light at the end of the tunnel," she said.
Surgery is used to construct the external ear as well as any inner ear defect. The severity of the defect, and the age of the child determines the time of surgery. It usually varies from ages 4-10. Dawson’s surgery is projected to be performed sometime during age 4, although that depends upon finances.
The breakdown for the price of Dawson’s surgery is as follows:
With no insurance to cover the surgery, the family is forced to raise the entire amount. They are hoping to plan a few fundraisers and are seeking help from others.
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They started a GoFundMe page and a Cash App, both designated to fund Dawson’s surgery. The family is also accepting cash and check donations.
On June 21, Tatum Joseph posted on Facebook that they had raised $10,300. As of June 25, $3,800 had been raised through the GoFundMe page.
"It amazes me how our community has already shown up to help," the mother said. "We will never be able to thank everyone enough for the support you have shown Dawson.”
Links to the GoFundMe page are shared on Tatum Joseph's Facebook page.
“Devin and I are so excited for our boy! This is something we didn’t think would happen this soon," the mother said. "Dawson is ready to fix his 'little ear,' as he calls it; we can’t wait to see his reaction when that day comes.”
