Born With One Ear Much Smaller Than the Other — A Mother Spent Eight Years Traveling Overseas for Her Son’s Surgeries

When Maziel welcomed her son Eithan, she discovered that he had been born with a rare congenital condition affecting the development of his face and ear.

His left ear was significantly smaller than his right, with an unusual folded appearance.

Doctors identified his condition as Goldenhar syndrome, a disorder that can affect the development of the face, skull and spine.

For his mother, the diagnosis marked the beginning of a journey that would eventually take them from the Dominican Republic to Boston, Massachusetts, year after year.

A Visible Difference From Birth

Eithan was born with microtia, a congenital difference in which the external ear does not develop normally.

His particular form involved a folded, cup-shaped left ear.

Fortunately, his inner ear structures were intact, and he did not experience hearing problems associated with the difference.

Nevertheless, his mother wanted to explore the specialist treatment available to help reconstruct the affected ear.

A Mother Searches Beyond Her Home Country

While seeking craniofacial treatment in the Dominican Republic, Maziel learned about a foundation that could help connect families with specialist medical care.

After an evaluation, Eithan was identified as a candidate for reconstructive surgery.

The foundation helped his family establish contact with Shriners Children’s Boston.

What followed was not a single hospital visit, but a long-term commitment involving international travel and carefully planned treatment.

Eight Years of Reconstructive Care

Plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Driscoll became Eithan’s primary surgeon.

Rather than attempting to reconstruct his ear in one operation, the medical team developed a staged treatment plan.

Across several procedures, Dr. Driscoll created a framework for the left ear, refined its outer structure and used a skin graft behind the ear to improve its position.

Because Eithan lived overseas, the hospital’s care management team helped coordinate appointments and travel arrangements for each visit.

His mother continued making the journey to Boston, determined to support her son’s treatment.

Finding Friendship Far From Home

Over the years, the hospital became more than a place where Eithan received surgery.

He and his mother developed friendships with staff members and other patient families.

During one visit, Eithan was particularly happy to meet another person from the Dominican Republic.

Although he sometimes missed his family back home, he gradually became comfortable with the hospital and even grew to love Boston’s snowy weather.

A Ten-Year-Old Boy With a New Sense of Confidence

When Shriners Children’s shared his story in August 2026, Eithan was ten years old.

His mother expressed deep gratitude for the care he had received throughout the previous eight years.

For Eithan, the reconstructive procedures were part of a broader childhood filled with friendships, travel and growing confidence.

His journey demonstrates how complex congenital differences can require long-term treatment, family commitment and collaboration between specialists across international borders.

Source: Shriners Children’s, August 25, 2026 — For Eithan, Personalized Care Is a 10 Out of 10 at Shriners Children’s Boston.