Cochlear Implant Surgery

After multiple reschedulings, Samuel is slated to have Cochlear Implant Surgery this Friday, October 1st, in Atlanta.

He has a pre-op appointment Thursday morning and then will be the first case Friday morning. The plan is to implant the right ear, as the left ear has no auditory nerve. However, there is a bit of concern from the surgeon that he won't be able to implant the right ear either because of some structural abnormalities in Samuel's ear. The abnormality in particular has to do with the facial nerve that runs over the cochlea: it's splayed and not a nice bunch of nerves, so there is a significant risk that proceeding with the implant could permanently damage that facial nerve - which would lead to palsy and difficulties with speech and eating.

So, we are hopeful that the surgeon will be able to work around the nerve (or whatever other anomalies he finds once inside) and successfully implant the device into Samuel's cochlea. The surgery is a 2 hour surgery and the surgeon told us that he won't know for sure if he can implant until 1 hr and a half in. So Samuel's recovery will be the same, either way. While the Cochlear Implant surgery is often an outpatient one, they will keep Samuel in hospital overnight Friday just to keep a closer eye on him.

It's hard to summarize how we're feeling about this. Desperately hopeful, maybe? Hopeful that it would be successful and that in time Samuel would be able to 'hear' us and develop speech and we'd have another form of communication with him. But not too hopeful in case it doesn't work. The greater the hope the rougher the crash if not fulfilled? Marginally terrified? The 'what-ifs' are many and full of fear. The last surgery, three weeks ago (a bi-lateral orchiopexy - to descend his two undescended testes) had a rough recovery (for Samuel and for us) and we're still dealing with some of the results of that one. You just never know with surgery ... and especially one that involves the brain (or at least areas pretty darn close to the brain!).

So, we'd invite your prayers for our Samuel and for us. Though 2009 and 2010 (through July) were hospital free (and we are so thankful!), Samuel's had 2 surgeries in the last 6 weeks and we are already tired of the hospital and all that goes along with it. Not feeling real prepared for such a big deal as awaits us at the end of this week.

I am thankful for and trying to trust in God's promise from Isaiah 42.3:

a bruised reed his will not break and

a faintly burning wick he will not quench