Cassidy Hooper closer to getting a nose

By Molly Grantham - bio l email

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -  Thirteen-year old Cassidy Hooper is recovering from major facial reconstructive surgery.  The southwest Charlotte teen was born without a nose and without eyes.  Two weeks ago she underwent a seven hour surgery to start the process of building nose.

She told her mother she wanted to go through the involved process so she could start smelling things and only be missing one of her senses, not two.

While interviewing her in her living room Wednesday night, Cassidy said she felt good.  Despite the graphic nature of her recent surgery, she's as upbeat and positive as ever.  She said the only pain she experiences is when she brushes her hair.

That pain comes from an incision on her scalp that runs ear-to-ear.  She also had nasal passages drilled, her eyes moved closer together, a skin graft and doctors moved her teeth over.

Her new nose will be built from other parts of her body.

"The bone from the base of the skull," she said.  "Cartlidge from either my ear or my hip."

When asked what she's most excited to smell, she answers quickly.

"A rose."

Click the red camcorder to see the report on the 10:00 News on WJZY.