Our son, Emmanuel (Manny), was born on 10/7/06 in Beaver Dam. Much to our surprise, we realized that Manny was born with Bilateral Microtia (no ears) and Atresia (no open ear canals), making him legally deaf. Shortly thereafter, we realized that Manny choked when he ate. After transferring to UW Hospital, we found out that Manny was diagnosed with another birth defect called Tracheoesophageal Fistula or TE Fistula.  This condition means that he has a "fistula" (connection) between his trachea and esophagus. The trachea and esophagus are supposed to each go separately into the lungs and stomach, respectively, without any connection.  This condition explains why Manny would choke when he ate.  He needed major surgery when he was only 5 days old to remove this fistula.

Despite his follow up at AFCH with Surgery, ENT, and Audiology, Manny has some other medical issues in which he sees a Cardiologist, Opthamologist, Geneticist, etc. He also gets to see Speech Therapists, Physical Therapists and Hearing Therapists on a weekly basis. He loves all the attention!

Manny wears a bone conductive hearing aid and recent hearing tests confirmed that he can hear well with the aid. When Manny is 3-5 years old, he will have multiple surgeries on both his inner and outer ears and as his bigger brother says, "Manny will then get to pick out any kind of ears he wants to....like Mickey Mouse ears...".

Ironically, my brother Derek has been putting on a fundraiser called the Greater Bucky Open for the UWCH/AFCH for the past 12 years (with a small portion going towards Bucky Badger Student Mascots...my brother was a Bucky!). Every year during the GBO weekend we hand out carts full of toys to the patients with UW football players and Bucky Badger. Watching these sick children and their parents eyes light up with happiness is indescribable. We then have a fundraising golf event at the UW Ridge. We are in the process of completing our $50,000 fundraising goal for the new AFCH Greater Bucky Open Family Waiting Room in the Oncology/Hemotology unit and are currently exploring our next fundraising goals at the AFCH. www.greaterbuckyopen.com

Being on the other side of the curtain was a whole new experience, and our family has such an appreciation for the wonderful AFCH doctors, their staff and now the new beautiful facility. While no one wants to be at the hospital - if you do, there is no other place to be than at AFCH...it is #1. 

We are raising money through a special GBO "Manny Friends" fundraiser with a goal of raising $5000. Donations through Manny's website will go towards our GBO goals at AFCH, such as the Family Waiting Room. Many thanks for your support!!! You can check out our commercial at www.nofinergift.org -> Champions for Children!

Sincerely,
Nate, Tiffany, Eli & SuperManny Wilke