Christian Alejandro de la Cruz Hernández is the perfect poster child for all the amazing work the Lake Chapala Shrine Club does to help local youngsters afflicted with disabilities and serious health issues.
Christian, who turns 11 in April, appears to be a bright and well-adjusted youngster in most respects. However, his development, learning and self-esteem have been challenged in overcoming bilaterial microtia, a rare birth defect characterized by ear problems, including malformed or missing ear lobes.
The boy’s mother, Eliza Hernández, sensed that something was amiss during her pregnancy, but it wasn´t until he was born that doctors told her about the congenital abnormality and its implications. They said that Christian was profoundly and irreparably deaf.
As she cared for her infant, Eliza noticed that he seemed to respond to certain sounds, giving her hope that he had some hearing capability. Prospects for a remedy grew when he was two, after she was introduced to Shrine Club members Graham and Sheila Paull.
Aiming to arrange medical help, the Paulls contacted the Shriner Hospital in Mexico City, only to learn that it is not staffed to treat his syndrome. Months later, while attending a Shriner event in North Carolina, they got leads on where his case could be handled. In October 2012, they got word that Christian might qualify for attention in Montreal, Canada. Another six months passed before his case was finally approved, with strict conditions attached concerning travel to Canada and related expenses.
The Paulls coordinated fundraising among Shriner friends in Chapala, Calgary, Winnipeg and Montreal, so that Christian and his family could obtain passports, visas, medical records translated into French and costly travel insurance.
Christian was four when everything finally came together in May 2013. He set off north accompanied by his mom, father Freddy de la Cruz, younger brother Freddy Angel and the Paulls as backup support. It turned into a seven-week ordeal with the patient shuffled between the Montreal Children’s Hospital and the Shriner’s Hospital for evaluations, medical tests and treatment. In the end, Christian came home with dual implants and a device that allowed him to hear and finally begin speaking.
The clan returned to Montreal six months later for a second medical round that included removal of the left implant due to recurrent infections.
Since then, Christian has made his way up to grade five at the elementary school in San Juan Tecomatlán, the village just east of Vista del Lago where his parents operate Focaccia, a popular roadside Italian restaurant. His speech and learning abilities are practically normal and he has bonded with schoolmates, who accept his physical differences without qualms.
Last November, the family went back to Montreal for Christian’s fitting of a new implant appropriate for his age and growth. He is a candidate for reconstruction ear surgery in the near future.
His heart-warming story is a great advertisement for the Shrine Club’s 14th Annual Ribfest Fundraiser coming up Wednesday, March 4 at the Cumbres Event Center in Chula Vista Norte. Tickets are available at Diane Pearl Colecciones, O&A Investments or by emailing David Eccles This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">.