Suddenly Charlie is very concerned about his ear. He wants his right ear to look like his left ear. We went for a walk on our side street. I told him that I know a doctor who can help us.
"How will he do it?" Charlie asked.
"First you will go to sleep. Then the doctor will put a piece of plastic shaped like an ear on your head, and cover it with your own skin. Then you will wake up and it will be red and puffy for a long time, but we can go to Disneyland," I said.
When we got back from the walk, I called Julie, Dr. Reinisch's scheduler. I explained to her that my son has microtia. Charlie began whining. "I don't want microtia!"
"Charlie," I laughed. "That's just a fancy word for 'little ear.'"
"Oh!" Charlie said, and went back to his Legos.
Julie told me that she had had a cancellation for September 11. I think that's too soon--we have to sort out the extra-ear-canal-ectomy situation. But she's holding it for me.