North girl in dire need of ear operation
The Cholesteatoma infection has already spread from the eardrum to the bone in the ear.
The Bam family in Montana Pretoria North urgently needs to raise funds to pay for a mastoidectomy ear operation for their six-year-old girl.
Larocelle Bam was diagnosed with Cholesteatoma infection in June after what seemed to be a reoccurring ear infection.
“In April we noticed yellow puss coming out of her ear but did not at first think much of it and cleaned it regularly. Larochelle also did not have any pain.
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“When hearing tests were done at the school in April, we asked that they would test her ears and have a look at what was going on in her left ear. The results of the hearing tests suggested we take Larochelle to an ear, nose and throat specialist,” Larochelle’s mother, Leechelle told Rekord.
After they saved up some money to visit a specialist, Larochelle went for a check-up and the specialist prescribed antibiotics to treat the infection.
“The antibiotics cleared up the infection but it soon started again.”
Leechelle eventually took Larochelle to the Steve Biko hospital where she was again given another dose of antibiotics.
“The doctor then said he suspects the infection in the ear could be Cholesteatoma.”
After Larochelle was sent for a computed tomography scan (CT or CAT), doctors saw the Cholesteatoma infection has spread from the ear into the bones of her ear.
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Due to the Cholesteatoma infection, Larochelle also does not have an ear drum left in her ear.
“One of the doctors initially suggested that a grommet be put in her ear to drain the fluids of the Cholesteatoma. Only when she went in to theatre for the operation the doctor discovered she had no eardrum left.”
Larochelle will see the specialist again next week who will give her a quote of how much the operation will cost.
“She has to undergo the operation as the infection can go from the bones into the brain which can affect her nerve system.”
Leechelle said they have been in talks with a local organization, Rock of Hope, who has offered to help them raise funds for the operation.
“We want to send Larochelle for the operation this year as she will go to Grade 1 next year.”
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