10/31/12 - Success!!!!

This morning Alexandra's implant was turned on and everything went perfectly. The electrodes' signals were very strong. She responded immediately. She is not understanding words yet without lip reading, but that is to be expected. Just got home and she is on the keyboard stimulating her brain/hearing. This is a picture of the CI with her hair pulled back. She is so excited. We begin speech therapy at UT tomorrow afternoon.

Thanks for your prayers! Thank you Heavenly Father for answered prayers!

10/30/12 - Activation Day Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the big day. We go in to have Alexandra's implant activated. Join us in Praying for great results!!

10/22/12 - Back to School

She was so excited to be at school and can hardly wait for activation day, October 31st.

We will begin speech & language therapy the day after her activation, Nov 1st. This will be every week at UT. Dreading the drive, but excited about the journey.

1022/12

Back to church, school, and regular routine. She is definitely ready.

10/18/12

The GREAT news is we have received the date for her activation: Halloween morning, October 31^st. Please add this date to your prayer calendar. We will video it and post if the session gives positive encouragement.

Alexandra did great having her staples and stitches removed. Glad that is over.  We celebrated, of course. She is a brave young lady. 

Two Weeks Update

Since the doctor would not let Alexandra go back to school yet, we took our long-awaited (by Alexandra) trip to the beach. It was just too hot this summer. We kept Alexandra's head out of the ocean and pool, much to her disappointment. We didn't want to take a chance on infection. She still had fun.

I called Cochlear and they are sending me the correct color to match her hair on the coils, magnets, and cables. (I am learning what they are called, even if I don't know how to use them....ha).  Tomorrow we go back to Dr Merwin for stitches and staples removal. She has healed nicely. I hope not so much it hurts.

Day 14 - Checking In

Just so you know, everything is great.  We have been out of town and didn't want to broadcast it to everyone. Everything is the same, except the healing of the incision is doing really well.  Just drove in; more tomorrow.

Evening Update - A Full Day

Well..........unfortunately, she was not healed enough to have the staples nor the stitches removed.  We will return next Wednesday. While we were waiting for Dr Merwin, Alexandra saw her left hearing aid in my purse. She got excited and wanted to put it on. Of course, she doesn't realize it would not do anything for her hearing in that ear.  It will be reprogrammed for her right ear as a backup. When I told Dr Merwin about what happened, he was touched.  He told Alexandra, "You will be hearing so much better with the implant". We know this, but it is always reassuring.to have it repeated.

We did receive her implant kit. I was shocked by how much is involved to make it work.  We were so BLESSED to receive two processors (one is to be used as a backup because she is under 18).  Not all doctors do this. I've read several manuals this afternoon and my head is swimming.  I have a lot to learn.

The kit (i.e., suitcase)

 

Just 2 of the 12 boxes in the upper tray alone cost $16,000

P.S. Dr Merwin's nurse is having her 2nd implant next Wednesday. She has taken so much time, both before and after Alexandra's surgery, to answer questions and let us feel of her head and examine her processor. Going way beyond duty..........

Day 9 - Morning

I've been awake since 4 a.m. Anticipation.....Lots of time for reflecting and prayer.  Thankful Alexandra had a good night's sleep.  Almost no temp this morning.  I believe she is getting a bit of a cold. Off to the Dr.

Day 8 - Good Day

Temp is normal today. It's been a roller coaster ride.

Tomorrow is the big day--stitches and staples removal. First time for her, but I don't expect any trouble. Maybe a little drama....smile. Pray for a good report.  It will be a chick-fil-a milkshake and lunch day. She has earned these indulgences.

We enjoyed our first jacuzzi of the fall season. It's always fun girl time...

Day 7 - A Time to Heal.....

Alexandra has spent the day in bed sleeping.  I suppose it is the body's own way of protecting itself as it knits together again.  She has been through a lot. Temp is still normal. Love that girl!

Let me amend that: Temp has gone back up a degree???

Day 6 - Temp Normal

We miss being at church today. Alexandra cannot do anything for at least a week. However, I am thrilled to report her temp is back to normal this morning. Praise God!

Day 5 - Doing Better

Temperature has been up only one degree all day without Tylenol. Thankful it has come down. Still keeping a close watch on things.  She laid around this morning, but after a shower and hair washing seems to be feeling closer to her normal self.  Not much change in the incision at this point. Stitches will not come out until next Wednesday.  Thankful for all of the likes, calls, cards, and prayers.

Day 4 - Temp

Alexandra is running a temp today.  Got some words of advice from Laura, my RN daughter-in-law. Pray it is not the beginning of an infection. Of course, it was 5 p.m. and Dr office was closed. They do have Dr on call if needed.

Pain or No Pain

I wish I could tell for sure if Alexandra needed pain meds. I think she believes it is not good to admit to hurting. I've been stretching them further and further apart. We shall see.  She has had a restful day.

Day 3 - Sleeping Beauty

Alexandra has spent the day in bed today, which is extremely unusual. She needs that time to heal, so I am glad.

Show & Tell

An uneventful day, which is a blessing for the day after surgery. Everything going as expected. She is showing her head to all her company. Nothing shy about this girl. The special needs class (STAR) at church made her cards and gave her a bag full of goodies too numerous to mention. Of course, her favorites were the balls and the gift card for chick fi la (I'm sure she's thinking milkshake).  How very sweet and thoughtful. My heart is so very full right now.❤

(Our phone is out of order again just in case you have tried to call.)

The Big Reveal.......Not

Everything under the bandage looks great. They left enough hair so it lays over the incision. I won't freak everyone out by posting a picture. She has 11 staples and 17 stitches. Dr Merwin did a beautiful job. She is on antibiotics and pain medicine, and is content. She is still a little unsteady, but again that is expected for a few days.  Brothers and dear Laura are coming to see her tonight and that will be a real treat for her. She loves her family!  I personally washed her hair for her just as an extra precaution. I am so thankful the surgery part is over and look forward to activation day. We are so blessed. Please Pray for healing with no infection and for patience as we continue our journey. Thank you for loving and caring about our gift from God. We adopted her 12 years ago next month. What a blessing she has been to our lives.

Day 2 - Restful Night

She had a restful night. A little dizzy, but doing well. We are going to do the big reveal in a few minutes by removing the bandage and showering. More later.

A Psalm for Giving THANKS

Psalm 100

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

    Worship the Lord with gladness;

    come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

    It is he who made us, and we are his;

    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

     give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Laughter......

Alexandra got her requested chocolate chick fil a milkshake on the way home. Then, we decided to move Alexandra to our room and Jerry downstairs while she is on bedrest.  Jerry turned on a kids show on our TV for her.  She said, "No Daddy, Football."   Too funny!

Heading Home....

She is a great patient. She had an episode of sickness, but is doing better. We are heading home. She will be on bed rest for  24 hours. That will be interesting. I may have to stay in her room and entertain her since she doesn't watch TV much and is not much of a napper.

Stitches will be removed in 1 week. Follow up check up in 2 weeks and then activation of the implant will most likely be early November. We are so thankful!

Psalm 145:1-3a

I will exalt you, my God and King;

I will praise your name for ever and ever.

Every day I will praise you and

extol your name for ever and ever.

Great is The Lord and most worthy of praise.

Back in Room

Back in our room. She asked if she was going to die. Bless this sweet child. She is a little dizzy, but that is expected. I have a bag full of hair....sniff, sniff.  

God is Good! Thank you for your prayers.

In Recovery

Everything went textbook perfect.

Stitching and Closing

First time I have ever talked with a Dr while he is operating. We gave our input (seriously) on the phone and he is closing. Everything going well so far.

Day 1 - Surgery has finally begun....

There is a lot of prep work involved, so they just notified us surgery has begun (8:45). They had to restart IV and also had a problem with the facial nerve monitor. Everything has been resolved. They shaved some of her head after she went to sleep. Dr Merwin has done more than 500 implants. We told him we were praying for him and that he will do the best implant ever. He has never responded when we speak of prayer, so we don't know about his faith. Praying we will be an instrument of faith. We are looking for 2-3 hours of surgery and an hour in recovery........ Dr Merwin is making good progress. Continue to pray.

The Night Before Surgery

We will be arriving at Children's Hospital at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning.  Thank you for praying for our beloved daughter.  We will update you along the way.

  Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:16