Life-changing surgery may help a little girl with rare disorder smile for the first time
A New York family raises money for a life-changing surgery for their three-year-old daughter, Addison Garvey. Addison suffers from Moebius syndrome, a rare disorder that affects the muscles that control facial expression. The Garvey's are hoping to raise enough money so Addison can have the surgery before she starts kindergarten.
A couple is trying to raise $125,000 for a surgery that will allow their little girl to smile.
Three-year-old Addison Garvey has a neurological disorder, Moebius syndrome, that causes facial paralysis and prevents her from smiling.
A special surgery is offering hope to three-year old Addison Garvey who has never smiled because of a rare syndrome that causes facial paralysis. (© Jennifer Garvey / SWNS.com)
During the operation, called facial reanimation, doctors would transfer the temporalis tendon from the top of Addison’s face to the corners of her mouth, giving her the ability to smile for the first time in her life.
“We have never seen Addison smile, which has been so painful because she’s such a happy girl, she has such a good attitude despite everything she’s been through,” her father James told news service SWNS.
Addison was diagnosed in 2014 with the rare condition that prevents her from smiling. (© Jennifer Garvey / SWNS.com)
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The pricey procedure would also help the 3-year-old with her speech, and her ability to swallow and chew. At the moment, she needs a ventilator and feeding tube to help her with those functions.
"It’s so important for her social skills to be able to smile and move her face and to be able to do things we take for granted, like the ability to open and close her mouth," her father said.
Even though Addison can't speak, she and her brother Jackson communicate using sign language. (© Jennifer Garvey / SWNS.com)
“Addison’s so bright, she’s just 3 but she knows hundreds of signs and that’s how she communicates,” her mother Jennifer told SWNS.
"Intellectually she’s above average, and it’s difficult to watch how frustrated she gets because I know she just has so much to say,” she explained.
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The mother added how Addison and their 19-month-old son, Jackson, are able to communicate with each other. "It's amazing to see how much she and her brother love each other. They communicate in sign language which is amazing to watch."
The parents want Addison to have the surgery in 2019, before she starts kindergarten. The couple has started a GoFundMe page to raise money for the surgery.
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