Possible Surgery for Becca

Below is the latest update on Becca from her Dad...

We have reached the eleventh hour. Given the optimistic tone of previous e-mails, I imagine some of you will find this unhappy news a surprise. According to two hearing tests taken this last week, Becca is largely deaf in the left ear. Furthermore, a recent MRI and CT scan indicate that Becca's left cochlea is experiencing "ossification"--a hardening that is the known consequence of some forms of meningitis. In short, a number of medical professionals are now recommending that Becca receive a cochlear implant, a rather obtrusive device that attaches both inside and outside of the skull and around the ear to send electrical impulses to the auditory nerve. Because a post-meningitis patient's cochlea can fully harden in a matter of weeks (thereby preventing the possibility of an implant), the ear specialist is urging that the surgery be performed as soon as possible--even as early as next week. Amy and I have the weekend to let everything sink in. We have few options but surgery. Finally, the tests also indicate that Becca's right ear has not improved and may also be a candidate for a cochlear implant.

Why might all of this seem like such a dramatic turn of events? Because Becca appears as though she's hearing many things. I've been contemplating my experiment with the headphones and have concluded that recognizing familiar tunes doesn't require as much hearing as I wanted to suppose. The best explanation we can ultimately give is that Becca is a very bright little girl with a remarkable memory. Through a combination of lip-reading, following sound patterns, predicting some responses and actually catching some syllables, her mind is quickly interpreting the "new language" now presented to her. She hears only a fraction of what most people are able to hear, and somehow she sufficiently fills in the gaps. We are told, however, that Becca could not attend regular school classes in her current condition.

Rebecca has remained pretty upbeat during this time. She hasn't complained, and she laughs and plays about as much as she used to. She is definitely more isolated, yet at the same time more perceptive. As for me, I very much miss the regularity of our story times together. More than this, I wonder just how far-reaching the circumstances of recent weeks will be. I am thankful for the existence of a device that can synthesize sounds when ears fail to work properly. I also believe that Jesus heals, even now. Up until the morning of surgery, I will continue to hold out hope for the latter.

With love,

Dave