Journey of a lifetime
What a wonderful adventure this has been. A journey of a lifetime that will not soon be forgot. What had started a terrible reality has become almost a fantasy if not for the fact of its truth. As I look back on my life I am ashamed by my lack of concern for others and my ignorance of what truly is important in this one lifetime we are given. Maybe it is lack of maturity in the past but I most certainly refuse to discard anyone or any moment that comes into my life again. In tragedy there is greatness, and in weakness there is strength. It is all a matter of perception. What was a saddening moment for my son has become one of our greatest joys and for that I am thankful. Never take a moment for granted. Not even the smallest. For we will never be able to attain it again. It is lost forever.
To those from my past, I am sorry for not appreciating you. To those in my present, I love you. And those in my future, I welcome you.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Surgery Day #2
Dr. Gresham Richter's face said it all as he called us back to speak with him after surgery. "Everything looks great" he said with a huge smile. Oh course there is still the risk of Grayson's facial nerve being damaged causing facial paralysis and the nerve running to his tongue can be affected causing him to have a long lasting metallic taste in his mouth. We will not know until he comes to. But the most important part is he has made it through the surgery without difficulty and with all 22 electrodes fitting into his cochlea.
Thank you too all for your thoughts and prayers during our time of uncertainty. And most of all, thank you to our Heavenly Father. You wrapped your loving arms around Grayson and saw him through.
Dr. Gresham Richter's face said it all as he called us back to speak with him after surgery. "Everything looks great" he said with a huge smile. Oh course there is still the risk of Grayson's facial nerve being damaged causing facial paralysis and the nerve running to his tongue can be affected causing him to have a long lasting metallic taste in his mouth. We will not know until he comes to. But the most important part is he has made it through the surgery without difficulty and with all 22 electrodes fitting into his cochlea.
Thank you too all for your thoughts and prayers during our time of uncertainty. And most of all, thank you to our Heavenly Father. You wrapped your loving arms around Grayson and saw him through.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Surgery Number Two
We are not done. We have scheduled Grayson's surgery for his other ear set for April 17th, 2009. Please pray for my little man as he heads off again to Arkansas Children's Hospital. His hearing at this point is better than that of an average 30 yr. old. Now this second cochlear implant will not increase his hearing much more but will allow him to localize sound. It is for his safety that we have decided to proceed with this next surgery. (He will know which direction a car is approaching him, etc.) How amazing it is that we today have the technology to improve a child's life. Not too long ago this was not even possible and Grayson might have lost his pleasure of sound, the sound of my voice as I tell him I love him, or tell him goodnight, forever.
Wish us luck!
We are not done. We have scheduled Grayson's surgery for his other ear set for April 17th, 2009. Please pray for my little man as he heads off again to Arkansas Children's Hospital. His hearing at this point is better than that of an average 30 yr. old. Now this second cochlear implant will not increase his hearing much more but will allow him to localize sound. It is for his safety that we have decided to proceed with this next surgery. (He will know which direction a car is approaching him, etc.) How amazing it is that we today have the technology to improve a child's life. Not too long ago this was not even possible and Grayson might have lost his pleasure of sound, the sound of my voice as I tell him I love him, or tell him goodnight, forever.
Wish us luck!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
HE CAN HEAR!
My God! He can hear! What excitement, what joy, I do not have the words to describe how wondrous this moment is. What had been taken from my precious little child has now been given back thanks to Dr. Gresham Richter. He will always hold a special place in my heart for the gift he has given my son. It is too overwhelming to fight back the tears.
My child can hear. These words are words I never thought I would ever say. These words are words that to most parents have little or no significance. But to me, they are a beautiful symphony that goes on forever.
Grayson's face lit up as his Audiologist Jordan King fed him his first post-op sounds through his implant. He immediately look to me with a huge grin as if to say " Mommy, I can hear." To think, what he must have been thinking as his now silent world, the world he had now become accustom, had been magically transformed once again. Only this time for the better.
I had been prepared for tears, for the possibility of his rejecting this change, but it never happened. Instead, because of his once having hearing he had embraced the gift of sound. My fear, my dread, had all disappeared in an instant.
My God! He can hear! What excitement, what joy, I do not have the words to describe how wondrous this moment is. What had been taken from my precious little child has now been given back thanks to Dr. Gresham Richter. He will always hold a special place in my heart for the gift he has given my son. It is too overwhelming to fight back the tears.
My child can hear. These words are words I never thought I would ever say. These words are words that to most parents have little or no significance. But to me, they are a beautiful symphony that goes on forever.
Grayson's face lit up as his Audiologist Jordan King fed him his first post-op sounds through his implant. He immediately look to me with a huge grin as if to say " Mommy, I can hear." To think, what he must have been thinking as his now silent world, the world he had now become accustom, had been magically transformed once again. Only this time for the better.
I had been prepared for tears, for the possibility of his rejecting this change, but it never happened. Instead, because of his once having hearing he had embraced the gift of sound. My fear, my dread, had all disappeared in an instant.
Friday, January 2, 2009
First Surgery
Here we go. Jumping in head first, holding our breath. January 2nd, 2009 my son has just had his first of two cochlear implant surgeries today. I am overwhelmed with emotion. What was supposed to take 2 hours turned into almost a 4 hour surgery, but Grayson has made it! His right ear has been implanted and now we will have three weeks before we know if it is going to work. He has his first doctor appt. in two weeks for a "post-op" check to make sure the stitches are healing properly. The following week Grayson will have his implant turned on. It is a gradual process. We will go back to Arkansas Children's Hospital every week for 6 to 8 weeks so his implant can be turned up more and more. (Did I mention it is almost a 3 hour trip to the hospital each way?) But all the driving is well worth it! The surgeon says he was able to get all 22 electrodes into Grayson's cochlea and that things could not have gone better. All there is to do now is pray for a speedy recovery. We will stay overnight here at the hospital and if all goes well, we will be sent home tomorrow. Thank you Heavenly Father.
Here we go. Jumping in head first, holding our breath. January 2nd, 2009 my son has just had his first of two cochlear implant surgeries today. I am overwhelmed with emotion. What was supposed to take 2 hours turned into almost a 4 hour surgery, but Grayson has made it! His right ear has been implanted and now we will have three weeks before we know if it is going to work. He has his first doctor appt. in two weeks for a "post-op" check to make sure the stitches are healing properly. The following week Grayson will have his implant turned on. It is a gradual process. We will go back to Arkansas Children's Hospital every week for 6 to 8 weeks so his implant can be turned up more and more. (Did I mention it is almost a 3 hour trip to the hospital each way?) But all the driving is well worth it! The surgeon says he was able to get all 22 electrodes into Grayson's cochlea and that things could not have gone better. All there is to do now is pray for a speedy recovery. We will stay overnight here at the hospital and if all goes well, we will be sent home tomorrow. Thank you Heavenly Father.
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