ED PORT TIME LINE

ED PORT TIME LINE

The Austintown man was born with neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes large tumors. He underwent several surgeries as a child, but the tumors returned. As an adult, Port was told the surgeries he needed were cosmetic and not covered by insurance.

November 2008: The Vindicator begins chronicling Port’s story.

2011: Port meets with Dr. McKay McKinnon, a Chicago plastic surgeon, and decides he wants him to do the required surgeries. Port also finds an insurance company that agrees to cover the procedures.

June 2011: Dr. McKinnon removes most of the tumor that covers the left side of Port’s face and separates the orbital bone from the brain, using Port’s own bone and a piece of titanium, in a 12-hour operation at St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago.

October 2011: Dr. McKinnon works on Port’s left eye and ear, trying to make them more even with the right side. Smaller tumors are removed from his ear and back of his head, and the surgeon works on his left cheek. Surgery lasts about 12 hours, and Port has complications after an infection developed behind his left ear.

March 7: Port undergoes his third surgery when Dr. McKinnon removed more tumors including a fist-sized nodule from Port’s left side.