Charlie's Story

Written in 2023

My name is Charlie and I’m 12 years old. I was born with left sided microtia. Originally the doctors didn’t know what had happened to my ear, but later my parents discovered it was a condition called microtia. Even though I was born with microtia, it has never stopped me from achieving my goals or stop me from making friends. Growing up was sometimes difficult with questions frequently being asked about my ear. I used to get frustrated with all the questions, but now I realise people are only curious about my ear and I have grown in confidence a lot since I was younger.

One of my hobbies is football, but it has been hard playing football and other sports with microtia because I get underestimated of my ability in sport due to my condition. But when I show my ability in some sports, people quickly come to realise that I’m just as good as anyone else and microtia doesn’t affect me as much as some people might think.
I’m happy as I’ve ever been. I have lots of friends and most importantly I’m confident in myself. I want to spread positive energy in hope that other people do not feel scared to be themselves, even if they have microtia or any other condition or disability. It is important to be confident so you can achieve your hopes and dreams.

Update from 2026

Charlie decided to go ahead and have an ear reconstruction at Great Ormond Street Hospital. In February 2026, the surgery went ahead.

To find out more about Charlie’s ear reconstruction journey, click here.

In 2025, Charlie’s mum and our Non-executive Director of Microtia UK, Tina, joined Sasha on her podcast.

Sasha shares, “In this episode, I speak with Tina Rycroft, a passionate advocate and parent whose son was born with microtia. Tina shares her emotional journey — from the shock of diagnosis to becoming a source of support for other families through her work with Microtia UK Charity.

We discuss:

  • The early challenges of understanding microtia
  • Navigating medical advice and surgical options
  • The emotional impact of raising a child with a visible difference
  • The importance of reassurance and support for new parents
  • Why open, honest conversations about personal choices matter

Tina’s story is one of love, strength, and advocacy — offering guidance and hope to families and individuals navigating life with microtia.”