Many of you may be following the posts that Sharon has been putting on Charlotte’s Facebook page.  She is home, doing well, considering the frustration at being unable to eat or communicate very well.

Always a little defiant, Charlotte insists on drinking through a straw instead of being fed with a giant syringe.  She has been drinking Carnation instant breakfast and liquid yogurt and applesauce through a straw.

She goes back on Friday for a surgery on her lips, and she’ll have a brand new smile.  They’ll also do some work on her nose, she’s only expected to be in the hospital until Sunday after this.  On the 30th, she’ll have her final nose surgery.

She still wants to get her ear next summer, and it’s completely her choice.  She’s bold and brave and wants this all over with.

Charlotte studies at home with her tutor the day before her last surgery.

Some press:

• Charlotte Ponce adapts to ‘new normal,’ heads into 3rd major surgery
• http://mediacenter.tveyes.com/downloadgateway.aspx?UserID=42730&MDID=1278627&MDSeed=9118&Type=Media  5PM segment with Alicia Smith on patient Charlotte Ponce and Beaumont Children’s Hospital surgeon Kongkrit Chaiyasate
• http://mediacenter.tveyes.com/downloadgateway.aspx?UserID=42730&MDID=1278620&MDSeed=9240&Type=Media  Noon segment with Alicia Smith on patient Charlotte Ponce and BCH surgeon Kongkrit Chaiyasate

• Robert Ortlieb posted -”West Michigan girl undergoes third surgery to reconstruct nose” on Beaumont website:  http://www.beaumont.edu/west-michigan-girl-undergoes-third-surgery-reconstruct-nose-lip-chaiyasate