Successful Pre Op

Hi everyone,
Well, five days have passed since surgery and Michelle has really bounced back. She's had a couple of rough mornings, but has been at school both Monday and Tuesday of this week. We saw Dr. Stidham today. She took off the little bandages that were covering the incision. Michelle was happy about that. The incision looks great: clean, closed up, and much smaller than I expected. You honestly can hardly tell its there. Michelle told me I could put up a picture of it, so I'll do that tomorrow.

She is getting stronger by the moment. Dr. Stidham will see her again in three months, as there is still fluid in her ear (which is normal). Once again, we were reminded of how much we like this doctor! She just makes us feel so comfortable....we're truly blessed.

More as the weeks progess..and we get closer the 29th.
Cyndi

Bouncing Back...slowly

Day two...Michelle is doing well...although she is tired. The bandage came off yesterday, so that feels better to her, I think. She's still a bit nervous about bumping or touching the site, but as you can see, now that we've been able to comb her hair, you'd never know she has a 2 inch scar behind her ear.

Getting her up and moving today is key...since we're hopeful she'll go back to school tomorrow.

Snoozing in the car on the way home..

Home and Happy!

Hi everyone,

Well, my best laid plans for posting yesterday dissolved once I got the word that she was out of surgery and in recovery. We got to go in while she was still sleeping, so we were there when she woke up.

The surgery was successful, and unlike 10 years ago, they were able to test the reliability and reaction of the auditory nerve before they closed her up. The nerve is still viable and responded to initial stimulation...which is GREAT news. You never know, after not being stimulated for 10 years, whether or not the nerve is still "working." Now, it will be a matter of what the brain will do with the sound it gets.

We hung out in the recovery room for a few hours, got her up, dressed and ready to head for home. She was an amazing trouper and was quite happy to see her brothers when we arrived in Chico around 5:30.

FINALLY HOME....much happier!

Now, it's rest and recouperate until we head back for our first mapping: April 29th. We'll know more at that appointment, and will certainly continue blogging about it!

Waiting...

Hi everyone...
Michelle went into surgery at about 10:45. Dr. Stidham said she should be done by about 12:15 or so, and then we'll see her when she wakes up.

We're just waiting now...in the family resource center..of course..had to find a computer!

Gotta love that pic of her just before surgery, huh? She won't be happy I put that up...that was just after they gave her the "happy juice"--I think maybe I need a prescription for that!

We'll post a quick pic when she wakes up, before we head for home.

THANK YOU--everyone...for the calls, emails, text messages..for your support. I'll breathe a little easier when she's awake.
Cyndi

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I'm ready to go...the happy juice made me feel goofy!

(anybody notice I have my angel quilt from Grandma Kathy with me?)

All is good to go..

Just finished our "pre-op" day--thought we might have time to shop a little--but no such luck!

Started the day with a thumbs up from the surgeon....then headed to the hospital for a pre-op with the children's surgery specialist. She checked Michelle out, answered all her questions and reassured her of the procedures for tomorrow. Michelle came away relieved, I think.

Then we headed upstairs to audiology to meet with Danielle. She's a great audiologist. Michelle got to see the new hearing aid (she wanted to see the acual implant, but it had already been sent to the OR and was sealed up anyway!) We scheduled the "stim" appointments (short for stimulation--what we call "hook up" or mapping) for April 29th. That'll be the big day--when we "turn on" the new implant. That procedure, like the surgery had changed drastically in the last ten years. More details about that when we get through tomorrow.

Thanks to everyone who has wished Michelle well...we're ready for tomorrow and to have this part behind us.

I'll try to post a few pics just before and after surgery tomorrow before we head back home to Chico.