Andre Crisp, a vintner and CEO of Legend Napa Valley Estate Winery, is accustomed to working in a noisy setting. The sound of powerful fans whirring to keep his wine barrels cool fills the air around him, a necessary environment for preserving the quality of the wine.
However, this environment posed a challenge for Crisp, who had experienced hearing loss following a routine ear tube procedure that went awry. Due to a hole that had formed in his right ear during the procedure’s healing process, he found it difficult to communicate with others at the winery, saying, “I could not stand here and talk to somebody at our facility because I couldn’t hear them.”
Dealing with recurring infections and a progressive loss of hearing, Crisp sought a solution in 2022 and consulted with Dr. Daniel Ballard, a specialist in head and neck surgery at Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center. To his surprise, Dr. Ballard proposed a life-changing surgical procedure to address his issues.
“It’s usually an ongoing thing that eventually reaches a point where you have to do something about it,” said Dr. Ballard. The surgery was a success, but just two days later Crisp was diagnosed with COVID, which led to a severe ear infection and re-perforation of his ear drum.
In 2024, Crisp was unsure if he would ever get his hearing back, but he was ready to try the repair surgery one more time. After the second surgery, he got great news when Dr. Ballard called and said he got 100% of his hearing back. “It’s a testament to Dr. Ballard, to his skill, and of course to Kaiser,” said Crisp.
Dr. Ballard said it was special for him to be part of Crisp’s journey, “These surgeries that are relatively routine for me as a specialist have a huge impact on people’s lives.”
You can learn more about Legend Napa Valley by visiting this website.
For more information about Kaiser, visit this website.
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