Samuel

Samuel’s family came to Fresh Start in January 2023 seeking surgery for his craniofacial abnormalities. From birth, he faced numerous challenges, including difficulty breathing and swallowing, which required hospitalization and the placement of a G tube for nutrition. Diagnosed with choanal stenosis, Samuel also received a trach and has been managing his condition with remarkable resilience. Geneticists believe he may have Pfeiffer or Crouzon syndrome.

Recently, Samuel had a particularly urgent medical situation. During a routine examination, his left eye suddenly protruded forward. Thankfully, our skilled medical team, including Dr. Magit and Dr. Henein, acted swiftly to reposition his eye and prevent further damage. This alarming incident highlighted the necessity for Samuel to be evaluated by an oculoplastic team, as repeated episodes could lead to irreversible optic nerve damage and vision loss.

In the past weeks, Samuel’s mother reported intermittent displacement of his left eye during exertion, with a complete displacement occurring earlier this year. An urgent CT and MRI confirmed bilateral optic nerve swelling, prompting us to expedite his treatment plan.

Samuel is scheduled for his first surgery with Fresh Start in the summer of 2024. This posterior vault reconstruction, performed by Dr. Gosman and Dr. Levy, will be a significant step in improving his condition. While this will be his first surgery, Fresh Start has already provided Samuel with extensive medical services, including ENT, genetics, ophthalmology and craniofacial evaluations, amounting to $53,514.79 in care so far.