The Latest Update

As many of you know, we have recently returned from another trip to Cincinnati.  We were able to see our first snowfall of 2017 while we were in Cincinnati.  Then, we came home and woke up to even more snow in NC.  We are so thankful that the snow did not affect our travels, and that we were able to get back home before the big snowfall hit.

                                                    All bundled up for his first time being in the snow.

Rhett had another scope done on his nose last Thursday.  He was under anesthesia for this scope, and it was done in the OR.  The surgeon was very happy with what she saw when she performed this scope of his nose.  She measured his nasal airway, and was happy with the measurements.  There was also no granulation tissue this time, which is a good thing.  Since he was under anesthesia, she went ahead and did another dilation of his nasal airway to ensure that it stays as open as possible.  We were thrilled with the news given because he seems to be healing from his surgery very well, and the airway seems to be staying open exactly how she wants it to be.  We will be returning to Cincinnati again in about a month to have another scope of his nose.  We are hoping that this will be the last time she needs to look at his nasal airway.  We will be leaving on February 7th, his scope will be done on the 8th, and we will return home on the 9th.  This time she will scope his nose while he is awake, and he will not be put under anesthesia.  He will only go to the OR if she feels that another dilation is necessary after scoping his nose.  Please pray that she is pleased with what she sees when scoping his nose while he is awake.  I would love for him to not have to go under anesthesia and to the OR again.  If our doctor is happy with the results of his next scope, we will also be able to  move on to the next steps for Rhett, whatever that may be.  This will be another quick trip, but all of the traveling is very exhausting.  We are so thankful to have the opportunity to travel to such a wonderful Children’s hospital, but I will be ready for these trips to not be so frequent.

While Rhett was under anesthesia, he also had an ABR hearing test.  This test looks at how his brain responds to sound.  He has had this test done two different times previously at 1 week old and 5 weeks old when he had his trach and g-tube placed.  Our audiologist wanted him to have another test done since he has gotten bigger to see if there has been any changes.  The test results were consistent with what we already knew.  It showed that he has severe/profound hearing loss in his left ear and mild/moderate loss in his right ear.  We will continue to aid his right ear with a hearing aid, and do nothing for his left ear.  She also agrees that the best way to enhance his hearing is with a hearing aid and not a BAHA or Cochlear Implant.  This information was to be expected, and we are so thankful for how well Rhett responds to sound with and without his hearing aid in.  I definitely know he is hearing and understanding because he is starting to do so many new things.  We are working on baby sign language to help bridge the gap of communication, but I hope he will also learn to speak one day.

Please remember us in your prayers with our next trip coming up so soon.  Pray for safe travels, good weather, and good results so that we may move on to the next step.  Thank you for all of your continued prayers and support through our journey.  We are so thankful to have such wonderful friends and family.

Psalm 136:1

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.  His love endures forever.