Though we were nervous about the appointment
in Seattle yesterday, we learned that the High Definition
MRI that Chad got in Seattle last month
turned out to be VERY important!
It revealed that the large tumor was not yet
infringing on his Cochlea. This increases greatly his
chance of getting a Cochlear implant.
We won't know for sure until surgery
but the odds increased tremendously!
The doctor is ordering an experimental piece of equipment
from the University of Michigan to test his
nerve during surgery.
A Chochlear implant will change his
life dramatically, it is a huge safety issue to be able
to hear something.
Chochlear implants are not t\\he same
as normal hearing, but it is hearing!
"An implant does not restore normal hearing. Instead,
it can give a deaf person a
useful representation of sounds
in the environment and help him or her to
understand speech."
It turned out to be a very positive visit. And his date is set.
He won't go back to Seattle till his surgery,
in April.
By the way we have learned about 200 Sign Language
terms! The bad news is, we realize how much we don't know.
We will still need the sign language, he won't get the implant
the day of his surgery if he can get one.
He has to wait till he recovers, but...
The Dr. said it was a 1 hr outpatient proceedure.
Also he won't always be able to use the transmitter. His Dr. said
he couldn't use it when wrestling or swimming.
At this point we are not even at a 50% chance he can get one,
but we are up from what was almost no chance.
Thanks everyone for the thoughts and prayers on our behalf!
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