|
Manny
Wilke
|
| GBO
Founder Derek's nephew Emmanuel "Manny"
Wilke was born on 10/7/06 in Beaver Dam to Nate
& Tiffany Wilke. Manny was born with a birth
defect called Bilateral Microtia ("little ears")
and Atresia (no open ear canals) and is legally
deaf. While he appeared to be healthy otherwise,
two hours after Manny was discharged from the Beaver
Dam hospital, he returned back to the Emergency
Room as he appeared to be choking when he ate. He
was admitted to Beaver Dam Hospital and then transferred
to the UW Children's Hospital the following day.
|
| Manny
was diagnosed with Tracheoesophageal Fistula or
"TE Fistula." This condition means that
he had a "fistula" or connection between
his trachea (windpipe) and esophagus (food tube).
This condition explains why Manny would choke when
he ate; the food would go through the fistula to
his lungs, instead of his stomach, causing him to
aspirate. Manny had major surgery when he was 5
days old at UWCH to remove this fistula. Besides
the Surgery team, Manny got to meet various specialists
throughout his 8 day stay at UWCH (Genetics, ENT,
Audiology, Pediatrics, Neurology, Cardiology, Opthamology)
and went through extensive testing (CT scans, X-rays,
EKG's, Ultrasounds, Blood Tests to name a few).
Manny will continue to have follow up appointments
with many of these specialists throughout the years,
but his prognosis in all areas is good. |
| When
Manny was a month old he underwent a specialized
hearing exam at UW to test for inner ear function
and happily, he does have inner ear hearing. Manny
wears a bone conduction hearing aid which helps
him hear. When Manny is 5 years old, he may be able
to have surgery at UWCH on both his outer and inner
ears. |
| Manny
is now a very healthy boy and his parents are so
thankful for the staff at UWCH and what a great
job they did. The Wilke family is so proud to be
part of the Greater Bucky Open. |
|
