MURRAY, Utah – A 6-year-old Utah boy can’t stop smiling after surgery to have his ears pinned back.
Gage Berger’s dad, Summit County Patrol Sergeant Timothy Berger, told ABC News kids started teasing his son more and more about his ears.
“I’d catch him looking in the mirror and trying to pin them back, and when he got nervous or upset or when he was in trouble, he’d physically grab his ears,” Timothy told ABC News. “It was subconscious. It was him thinking that his ears were the problem and that was why he must be in trouble.”
Timothy and his wife, Kallie, researched surgical options for their son and found Dr. Steven Mobley in Murray.
Dr. Mobley has a charitable surgery foundation to help children who are victims of bullying and who otherwise couldn’t afford the procedures.
“I get a lot of patients with big ears, and some of them decide they like their ears and they have the strength and resilience to stand up to bullies,” Dr. Mobley told ABC News. “But I also have other patients who are just crushed, and they shouldn’t be shamed for wanting a procedure that helps them gain back their confidence.”
Dr. Mobley and Gage’s parents explained the surgery to him and made sure he wanted to do it after knowing all of the details.
They said they would have backed out if Gage even hesitated, but he did not.
Dr. Mobley said he also had surgery to pin his ears back when he was young, so he understands what many children are going through.
Gage “grinned from ear to ear,” Dr. Mobley said after seeing his new look two days after surgery.
Timothy said Gage is “back to his old self again” and “couldn’t be any happier.”
