9-year-old gifted new ear after being denied entry to Disney store

By Kayla Simas Staten Island Advance, NY

AFTER A 9-year-old girl from Staten Island was denied entry inside a store for not wearing a surgical mask, she was gifted a free ear surgery from a Beverly Hills doctor, according to NBC News.

In 2021, Alexis LaGrega was denied entry inside the Disney store at the Staten Island Mall in New Springville, for wearing a neck gaiter rather than a surgical mask, the report states.

LaGrega’s mother, Holly, explained to employees that her daughter had a congenital deformity, which means Alexis does not have a fully formed right ear, and is unable to wear a mask that loops over both ears.

The store still asked the family to leave, citing the policy that Disney requires ear loops on all face coverings.

LaGrega’s story reached the Small Wonders Foundation, which helps children born with facial deformities get reconstructive surgery and offered to give her an attached right ear, the report states.

Dr. John Reinisch, a paediatric plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills performed the surgery on LaGrega, giving her a right ear made from a polyethylene mold that’s covered with tissue taken from under the scalp.

“It was weird, but cool at the same time,” LaGrega described on seeing her ear for the first time.

LaGrega’s mother said she never thought this day would come.

“It’s mind-blowing,” she told NBC News. “You hear about families where these things happen. I never thought it would happen for us.”