A Microtia Atresia Diagnosis: Hearing Aids, Surgery and a Journey of Hope [REPOST] - Kim's Story(255)

 

“You make the best decision for yourself and your family—and you stick with it.”- Kim Pena

What happens when you’re handed unexpected news at your child’s birth—and there’s no clear roadmap ahead? In this reposted episode, educator and mom Kim Pena shares her powerful journey as the parent of a child born with Microtia Atresia, a rare congenital condition affecting the ear. Kim was one of Katie’s very first guests on the Child Life On Call podcast, and her story is still a listener favorite to this day. In this repost, Katie kicks off the episode by giving us a quick update about Kim’s son. 

From discovering her son’s diagnosis at birth to making emotional, high-stakes decisions about surgery and hearing aids, Kim walks us through her family’s deeply personal experience with compassion, clarity, and humor.

In this episode, you'll learn:

✅ What Microtia Atresia is and how it affects children

✅ How Kim and her husband navigated hearing loss, reconstructive surgery, and insurance battles

✅ Why early intervention with hearing aids changed everything

✅ What recovery and long-term care looked like for their son

✅ How to find trusted resources and support if your child is diagnosed

 

Kim’s story offers encouragement, practical wisdom, and a reminder that joy often shines through the hardest moments.

Timestamps & Key Topics

⏱️ [00:00] – Introduction: Meet Kim and Thomas
Kim’s background as an educator, and how her son’s birth revealed an unexpected diagnosis

⏱️ [02:00] – What Is Microtia Atresia?
Definition and how it affects the outer and middle ear
Kim learns about the condition immediately after birth

⏱️ [04:00] – Family History and Diagnosis Challenges
The connection to Kim’s brother-in-law
Why this condition wasn’t caught on ultrasound

⏱️ [07:00] – Building a Support System
How Kim’s relationship with her father-in-law became essential
Finding emotional and logistical support from someone who’s been there

⏱️ [09:00] – First Surgeries and Hearing Tests
Understanding Thomas’s hearing loss
The process of getting tested, hearing aids, and early therapy

⏱️ [11:00] – Choosing the Right Surgery
Exploring different surgical options, including rib graft and Medpor
Why Kim’s family chose a single-surgery approach

⏱️ [13:00] – Surgery Day and Recovery
A 13-hour surgery and the emotional toll
Why recovery in California brought unexpected connections

⏱️ [16:00] – Post-Surgery Life & Daily Care
What healing looked like in the months after
Kim’s advice on establishing trust, prepping a toddler, and using distraction

⏱️ [20:00] – The Bittersweet Nature of Change
Letting go of “his little ear”
Gratitude for what the journey has taught their family

⏱️ [22:00] – Research, Advocacy & Making Confident Choices
The role of online communities and navigating defensiveness
Why Kim recommends aiding early—and being unapologetic about your choices

⏱️ [27:00] – A Life-Changing Hearing Aid Moment
The first time Thomas could hear clearly—how it changed their world
Why Kim wishes she had recorded that moment

⏱️ [29:00] – Final Reflection: Raising a “Joy Boy”
Despite everything, Thomas’s joy and resilience shine through
Why Kim’s journey is one of perspective, peace, and purpose

 

Resources & Links

📌 Learn More About Microtia Atresia:

• microtia.net – Up-to-date education & support
  
  

• earcommunity.org – Parent-led advocacy and insurance help
  
  

• microtiasurgery.com – Thomas’s surgeon with videos and guides
  
  

• pediatricent.com – Additional surgical resource (Dr. Bonilla, San Antonio)
  
  

📲 Connect with Kim:

• Instagram