Tommy was born early due to complications and was born without any ears. Tommy’s dad, Carl Leech, was a sergeant in the Coldstream Guard and he was killed in an accident when Tommy was one year old. Tommy, who will be ten in February and his mother, Lisa Leech, now live alone in Hemlington and his mother has long term health problems.

Tommy’s inner ear does work but it’s difficult for him to hear anything. To best express the level of Tommy’s hearing it has been described to “trying to listen to a conversation whilst under water”. Tommy wears a hearing aid and attends a mainstream school – Hemlington Hall Primary.  Tommy has therapy and can speak, which is a massive achievement in itself as the hospital said he would never be able to speak.  

After several operations, Tommy has a bone anchored hearing aid with a skin graft over the top and it was after this that Tommy could hear his first sounds. It is unfortunate that the NHS cannot perform any operation to open the ear canal and attach ears. The option to go private at Great Ormond Street Hospital can only provide Tommy with synthetic ears that will not help him to hear and are for cosmetic purposes only.

The only way for Tommy to get fully functioning ears is to go to Germany and consult surgeon Professor Ralph Siegert, who will carry out the operation. Each ear will need two to three surgery sessions and it is only possible to operate on one side at the time. If all goes to plan the first of the operations will take place in April 2008 and continue so that he is ready in time for secondary school in September 2009.  All this is estimated to cost £50,000.

In order to help raise the funds needed I am participating in the Great North Run 2008 and am counting on you for support!