Lucas is about to receive his second cochlear implant, on his left side.  We thought about this in depth because many members of the deaf community recognize that once the ear is implanted with the cochlear technology, then it will forever be unable to function should there be some "natural" cure to deafness...the ear is "ruined", so to speak after the cochlear implant. It is a difficult choice to make.  But, we want Lucas to hear.  It does not make us any less proud of his deaf heritage.  We are just making the choice which we have before us.  The surgery is this Thursday, October 31.  I feel badly that Lucas will miss "trick-or-treating"...but that was the date the surgeon had available.  I told Lucas about it...and he has been asking every day if he could go that day!

Final Mapping!

 

Lucas had the final mapping of his cochlear implant last week.  He can now hear sounds as quiet as a whisper!  It's really amazing to watch him pass hearing tests and very clearly react to the sounds as they are produced in the sound booth. 

 

This Sunday at church, I called Lucas' name down the hallway, and he turned right away. 

The doctors are thrilled that Lucas is wearing his sound processor consistently and that he did not reject it.

 By the grace of God, it was not too late for Lucas to hear, as we were warned it may have been, as he should have had the surgery years ago.

Now, he is working every day to "learn" to hear. 

He has to learn to differentiate between sounds and react to them appropriately.  We're seeing progress every week.



What a Day!!

As usual, I was "so prepared"!

Yeah right...so I thought!  I had everything "all planned out" for this day which we had been eagerly looking forward to for 2 years.  My checklists (mental and written), my time schedule, my bag, and of course, my big expectations!

However, God had other plans for this day...

It was the morning of the surgery, and I was just about to grab some breakfast.  I had plenty of time, and it was only 6:30 AM.

We didn't have to leave until 7:30 for our 9:15 arrival in preparation for our 10 AM surgery time.  Plenty of time.  Doing great.  All I had to do was get some gas and cash from the ATM for the tolls.

So, I began packing up my purse.  Of course, grab that cell phone!

What's this? I had a Voicemail which had come in at 10:55 PM the night before, while we were sleeping.

My heart dropped the first 2 feet when I saw that the area code from which the call was made was for Rochester.

It dropped the rest of the way to the ground when I heard the words, "You've been moved up to the first slot, which means we need you to be here by 7 AM."

It was now 6:38 AM, and I needed a minimum of 90 minutes to get to Rochester.

I lost it.  We left within 60 seconds.  I was a mess.

 Lucas loves to make the "Peace" sign.  Here he is, dancing around before going into the Operating Room.  We made it there by 8 AM, and we had just enough gas in the tank to get there.  I pulled into the Hospital Garage on Empty. The $3 cash left I had in my wallet was just enough to pay the toll, because we didn't have time to stop.  I was so happy to have made it "in time", and not have gotten bumped!  Turns out that the surgeons wanted to start at 8:30 AM.  Thank God!

 Lucas absolutely adored the iPad which Child Life brought to him to help him relax.  It was such a blessing, because when I left the house in such a rush, I actually FORGOT to grab the iPod touch we had bought for Lucas, especially for this day!  I couldn't believe it when I realized I left it behind as I blazed down the Thruway.

Nick with me in the waiting room as we awaited word on Lucas.  I did a little "light reading" for my course on music healing, which happened to be very appropriate for the day!!

 Lucas did really well, and the surgeons were very pleased.  He did have quite a bit of nausea related to the inner ear procedure which affected his sense of equilibrium.  That seems to have passed this morning.  We will now eagerly await the activation of the device, and the experience of first hearing!  Thank you for your prayers!

Five Days Until Lucas Gets His Cochlear Implant!

There he is, Dr. Lucas, taking over the Doctor's computer at his own appointment!  I can't believe that the journey to hearing is finally down to just a few days until Lucas has his cochlear implanty surgery.  It has been such a long journey for Lucas and for us.  I first saw a picture of Lucas at an adoption conference in 2010, and it was an instant connection.  I knew he was meant to be our son.  I stopped breathing and froze, staring at his picture, and it actually almost knocked me on my butt, because I wasn't looking to adopt again...I had just given birth to Catherine less than a year before.  I was just serving the food at the conference as a volunteer!  When I shared the experience with my husband upon getting home, he instantly said, "Yes...I want to do this."  I was floored, and off we went on the wild ride of adoption ...again!
   It took 21 months to complete all of the exhaustive paperwork and clear all of the many hurdles and roadblocks which came up unexpectedly along the way.  It was truly a laborious and trying 21 months, and we almost gave up a few times along the way. 
   Meanwhile, Lucas was on the path to get the cochlear implant surgery in China due to the many efforts and fundraising of many people, including a choir at New York University which held a benefit concert for his cause.  However, when his orphanage learned that we were planning on adopting him, it was decided that it was in everyone's best interest that Lucas get the surgery done in the United States, especially due to the intensive follow-up "mapping" (sensitizing) of the device which is required.
   So, here we are!  Just a few days left...your prayers and good thoughts will go a long way. 
           Thank you!!!  We will keep you posted!

                                                      Baby Lucas at his orphanage, 2006

We Have a Date!!

Lucas will get a cochlear implant on July 19!

He will then heal up for one month after the surgery, and in August, will hear for the first time.

The implant will be "mapped" and slowly turned up in it's sensitivity until he will reportedly be able to hear sounds as quiet as a whisper...

Bring on the Mozart!

W

 Off we went to Rochester today again.  Lucas got creative about how to spend an hour and a half driving time.  Spider Man Stickers!!  Of course!!

 A fine job, of course!!

 Next up, what can the medical chair take that Lucas can give?

 This chair is down to the last drop... and Lucas wins!

 Actually, he broke into dance!  Isn't that what medical chairs are for?

 Lucas won temporarily...but Lucas was pooped by the time we reached the NYS Thruway back.

 Lots of wax was removed from Lucas's ear by Dr. Dutcher.

Even Dr. Dutcher was amazed at how Lucas instantly knew, without any tutorials, how to navigate the computer scans of his own CAT Scan images!!  By the way, Lucas is cleared for surgery for the cochlear implant in the next few weeks!!  Glory to God!!

    Lucas had a CAT Scan today at Strong Memorial Hospital as the next step in his Journey to Hearing.  We had to leave Syracuse at 5:30 AM in order to make the 7:30 AM appointment.  First stop?  The Kid's Korner as we waited for anesthesia, and the John Deere tractor had Lucas's name written all over it.

 Next stop was the Slinky, and things got a little silly...

 When the oral anesthesia began to take effect, Lucas got REALLY silly...

 ...but unfortunately, this is where things got really difficult.  The oral anesthesia was not strong enough to calm Lucas in a way that would have him lay perfectly still for 2 minutes in order to get all the pictures the doctors needed of his bone structure. The staff and I tried everything, but Lucas was very upset and crying. (Who wouldn't be when they were literally strapped and duct-taped to a table with no way to understand why?)

 Unfortunately, Lucas then had to receive intra-venous anesthesia in order to be asleep and then perfectly still for the delicate CAT Scan.  It had to be done right...a lot is riding on this!

 Things got even more difficult when no one could get an I.V. into any of Lucas's veins to administer the stronger anesthesia.  Two doctors and two nurses tried into the teens of times to find a vein that would accept the I.V...it was unbelievable!  They said this was definitely a case for the record books!  Apparently, Lucas's veins are very flat, making it extremely difficult or impossible to insert the I.V.  Finally, over an hour and many hot packs to cause dilation later, a CRN specialist was called down, and she got the job done on the second try.  Poor Lucas.  He was not at all happy.  Child Life brought a cool iPod touch down for him to play games on for a distraction...and it worked.

After it all was the best part...he got to choose what he wanted to eat from the nurses' stash after he "came to"...and of course, he went right for the Diet Coke and cookies.
Now, we'll just pray that Lucas's bone structure will support the implant...we'll find out on Monday!