My name is Peter Dankelson, and I am 10 years old-- a whole decade!!!  I enjoy fourth grade, playing with my friends and younger brother, (sometimes fighting with my younger brother), reading, watching movies, and playing video games.  I especially love dogs and puppies.  They are always your friend and love you unconditionally at all times.  We have two dogs at home.  Divot is a white Bichon/Lhasa mix, and Dexter is a black Yorkipoo.  Divot is the sweeter one.  Dexter doesn't like sharing toys and is a fiesty little 7-pounder.

Here's what the National Association of Children's Hospitals wrote about me a few years ago...

When Peter's ear fell off in class, his fellow students were surprised.  But for Peter, it was just a typical day.  Diagnosed with Goldenhar Syndrome, a craniofacial birth defect, he was born at 30 weeks weighing only 2 pounds 13 ounces.  Peter's birth defects included a missing left ear, cleft palate, underdeveloped jaw, single-pelvic kidney, c-spine abnormalities, eye dermoids, and hemi-vertebrae.  He had a trach for four years.

Peter is able to have some fun with his prosthetic ear by tricking his doctors into examining it.  More than eight specialists have worked together to perform his many reconstructive surgeries and provide follow-up care, including therapy that is helping him transition from a feeding tube to oral eating.

Whether Peter is cheering on the Detroit Red Wings or running and playing at school, he's teaching everyone around him not to be afraid to make friends with someone who looks different.