On August 4-5, 2017 we returned back to the exquisite Terranea Resort, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. On Friday evening we hosted a Meet & Greet ice cream social with families, surgeons and sponsors. On Saturday we enjoyed breakfast followed by educational, inspiring, and humorous presentations, followed by a Patient Panel Question Answer session…while the children were busy at Kids Camp doing “sea-life” inspired crafts and going on nature explorations! Families gathered on Saturday evening for s’mores by the pool. Individual Patient Appointments with surgeons and breakout sessions were scheduled throughout the weekend. Of course, let’s not forget the ongoing pool and waterslide fun!
These moments are best captured by photo and wrap-up video:
LAMAC Photos click HERE
LAMAC Wrap-Up Video:
This conference could not have been successful without the following people:
- My family husband John, son Geoff, daughter Kaci, parents Bob & Linda, Maria
- My team Deb, Tiffany, Kim, Larrissa, Judy, Maribel
- Speakers Dr. Bradley Kesser, Dr. Arturo Bonilla, Angela & Sarah Sabal, Stephen Westhead, Dr. Andre Panossian, Larrissa Trevino
- Sponsors Earicles, Cove Surgery Center, Lewin Ear Reconstruction, EarWells, Microtia Congenital Ear Deformity Institute, Su-Por/Poriferous, Medtronic, Cochlear (and Vibe the moose!), Oticon Medical, Medical Concepts, CORI Communications, Dr. Andre Panossian, along with the Ayer, Westhead and Sanchez-Farmer families
- Patient Panel Families Neabella, Alysa, Tyler, Stephen, Naiah, Ethan, Helio, Ram, Sarah, Sebastian, Stephanie, Arabella, James
- Torrico Photography Al Torrico
- Cove Surgery Center Ahmad, Quynh, Maribel, Dr. Michele Dee
- Terranea Jennifer Blate (Conference Coordinator), and endless others!
- Kids Camp Rachel and Kasey (Helpr), Chelsea Dale (Terranea)
- Butera Design Frank, Debbie
- Impact Productions LA Michelle, Dean, Bryan
- Kollege Town (t-shirts, shirts) Coach Joe Loizzo
After each conference we send out a post-conference survey as we strive to improve each and every conference. The feedback was amazing:
“We so enjoyed the conference and are still trying to process all that we’ve learned.”
“One of my favorite parts of LAMAC was connecting with other families that can relate to our challenges. It was so wonderful for my daughter to meet other kids with microtia – both pre and post surgery.”
“This was my third Earicles conference, now with my daughter being post op! I still loved listening to the lectures and hearing what is new in the field of microtia and atresia.”
“We made the closest friends of a family whose daughter already had the surgery. It was wonderful to see a girl who is thriving and it was just a small part of her life. Sometimes we get consumed by the enormity of all the decisions and possible implications.”
“Aside from all the information we gained during this conference, being able to connect with other families is such a blessing.”
“Really appreciated the Meet and Greet session as it allowed my family to meet the doctors at a less formal and more personal setting.”
“Great to learn about the technology available for our kiddos with microtia/atresia.”
“The entire LAMAC team is fantastic. You are awesome!”
Survey says….
99% of the families said they would recommend an Earicles Microtia Atresia Conference to another family. One was a “maybe” 🙂