Chinese proverb

"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place or circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle but will never break."
(ancient Chinese proverb)


Monday, November 18, 2013

All Ears

We have been waiting for this day for what seems like forever!

Today Audra was back in the OR (just Day Surgery thankfully!) for a sedated ABR hearing test, a more thorough examination of her ruptured ear drum and to top it off, possibly ear tubes.

She was less than happy to have been woken up at 4:45 this morning, offered only a clear liquid to drink, and then loaded into the car in her crazy footsie pajamas again. She knew exactly where we were headed.

I have been worried all weekend that Audra might not make it into the OR today...not because she would flat out refuse to go in there again...but because she has been having fevers up to 102 since Thursday evening.  She's not sick though...no cough, no runny nose, nothing...and the incisions from her surgery two weeks ago look fine.  No signs of infection anywhere.  Today, as we waited to be called back to the pre-op area I could tell she was brewing another fever.  And by the time they checked her vital signs she was shivering and her temp was 105!

Our hearts sank. We really, really need this hearing test to be done so we can move forward with getting her hearing aides.

Thankfully, today Audra had the same anesthesiologist that she had when she went to the OR with a high fever during her hospitalization in May. She remembered Audra and her story and she was ok with proceeding today.  Thank Heavens!!!

Everything went very well today.  First the ENT doctor examined her ears. The left ear drum is still ruptured and we will discuss the surgical repair of that at her next appointment.  And she did not need ear tubes! Yay!  The ABR hearing test showed...GOOD NEWS...her right ear has moderate hearing loss (not no response to sound like the other hearing tests have indicated) so she can get bilateral hearing aides!!!  Her left ear has moderate-severe hearing loss which might improve some once that ear drum is repaired.  We will see ENT in a few weeks to discuss the tympanoplasty further.  More good news, which I wasn't even expecting....they did the molds for her hearing aides today in the OR !!!  One step closer to getting our girl to hear better. 

She came out of the OR with a fever of only 101, sitting up looking great.  She makes my heart smile...she is so resilient. 

Ironic as it is (or as everything with the journey to these two beauties has been)...

Both Audra and Charlotte were in a Day Surgery today, at the same hospital, having procedures done that involved their ears (although quite different procedures).  Charlotte arrived shortly after Audra came out of the OR. I quickly went to see her and give her a good luck hug.  Charlotte went into the OR just as Audra was being discharged. We stopped by the waiting room before heading to our car so we could see Uncle Tim and Aunt Dawn and make sure they were ok.  They were just getting settled in for their big wait.  We are now home and just heard that Charlotte is out of the OR and did well also.

The girls with their first set of "ears"...

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