Some futuristic medical technology, a skilled surgeon and the big heart of the Canberra community.
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All that is coming together for Garrett Mengelkamp, a nearly three-year-old boy from Tuggeranong, who loves Paw Patrol, cheese and cars.
He was born with a series of genetic conditions that will require multiple surgeries in the coming years.
The most pressing is the construction of his left ear, which developed abnormally due to the rare congenital condition, Goldenhar Syndrome, which has caused the left side of his face to be smaller than the right.
His parents, Melissa and Allan, both public servants, want nothing more than for their boy to have the best chance at life.
"Nothing stops him," Melissa said.
"Al and I are trying to make him a confident and happy little boy."
Until recently, the only option for Garrett would have been an ear constructed from his own rib cartilage, a procedure that would have probably required several of his ribs to be broken.
"It was just not something I wanted to put him through right now," Melissa said.
But another, less invasive option has become available - a custom 3D-printed ear reconstruction.
The procedure was first performed in Australia earlier this year on a four-year-old boy from Brisbane, by US surgeon Dr Joe Dusseldorp.
The Mengelkamps hope Dr Dusseldorp can do the same for Garrett.
A 3D-scan of his right ear would help to create a mirror image implant. That implant becomes his left ear, covered with his own skin.
Garrett has already had surgery to repair a cleft lip.
He is likely to need surgery to correct a curvature of the spine and a rotating eye.
The little boy, who turns three in September, will also require a cleft in his gum to be filled from a graft from his hip when he is eight to 12.
So, with all that ahead, his parents were thrilled that the ear implant might save him from more radical surgery.
It also means less pain and less time in hospital.
The implant surgery costs $30,000, regarded as an elective procedure. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help reach that target: https://www.gofundme.com/can-you-ear-me
The Mengelkamps hope the surgery can be performed when Garrett is four, before he goes to preschool.
"The psychological benefit to him would be enormous. Kids are already noticing he is different and starting to ask questions," Melissa said.
"Our goal will be to create an ear that is as close to his other ear as possible and one which he will be proud of and, ultimately forget about."
The couple say their workplace has been phenomenal. "Oh amazing," Melissa said. "Without the support of my team leaders and colleagues, I would not be able to continue to work in a full-time job and do everything I need to do for Garrett."
The family just hopes, with all that lies ahead for Garrett, that getting his "big ear" becomes something a little easier for him.