A few months ago, we decided that a second cochlear implant was in Scott’s best interest. Bilateral implants are now considered beneficial for children who have had success with their first implant. For Scott, due to his visual impairments, a second implant will hopefully give him the ability to localize sound. With one implant Scott can hear very well, but cannot tell from which direction the sound originates.
Scott went in for surgery yesterday, and was very brave. We now let him know what is happening in the days leading up to a surgery, which makes him very nervous, but also helps him to be brave when the day arrives. He was very worried – but walked right in to the operating room himself for surgery number 34.
The operation was a complete success. His doctor was able to insert the entire device into his cochlea, which will allow all available electrodes to stimulate his auditory nerve, giving him the best range of sounds. He was awake and alert in the early afternoon, and while most people struggle to get down some broth, this hospital veteran wolfed down most of a chicken burger for dinner. When he was awake enough to wear his glasses and sit up on his own, we gave him a present we had bought for him a few days ago. Apple’s new iPad – a tablet based computer that runs the same software he has learned to use on his iPod, but with a larger screen that is much easier on his eyes. He loved it. Who wouldn’t?
Scott stayed one night at Children’s Hospital, and was happy to return home, although a little annoyed to have his activities restricted. He needs to stay home from school this week, and will have to refrain from running and jumping for about a month – not easy for him.
Just like his first implant, the wound will be allowed to heal for about a month before we go in to have the new device turned on. After the initial activation, is will be gradually turned up to normal hearing levels. Although he is already using an implant on the other side, it will still be like learning to hear all over again, since the area of the brain that processes these sounds will be separate than the area processing sounds from the other ear. It will take him time to learn, and it won’t be easy, but Scott loves his first implant, and that good experience should help him make the transition.
We spent this past weekend in Harrison Hot Springs. Scott had his fill of swimming in the pool and in the lake. He also enjoyed riding the bumper boats.
We’ve been looking for a bike like this for a long time. On the recommendation of Scott’s eye doctors, he is not supposed to be learning to ride a bike (at least yet) due to the danger of a potential fall to his one good eye. He loves being on bike though, so we have been looking for a bike that he can ride on with one of us. There are tons of great bikes available in Europe, but many are extremely expensive.
Then we found this
It’s an Asama “Two of Us” bike that we found on sale at The Bike Doctor on Broadway in Vancouver. We weren’t even looking for a bike, but we were out for a walk, and it caught our eye. It’s a six speed with an extra seat between the main seat and the handlebars, as well as foot pegs and a small handlebar for the child. They let us take it and give it a try, and Scott loved it. As a bonus, the bike is also completely foldable, and fits just about anywhere.
Scott got his first trip in a canoe today, solidifying his place as a Canadian. We went up to Widgeon creek in Pitt Meadows and took advantage of calm waters to spend a nice day on the water.
I’ve started adding some videos to the site! We’ve got some recent video, as well as some video of Scott in the nursery learning to breathe. Choose a video from the “video” menu at the top.
Scott’s website has been updated again. Most of the photos we take of Scott now get uploaded to Flickr, so instead of posting them directly to his website, we’re providing a feed of the photos form Flickr. All of the old photos are available in the main menu at the top of the page (just select a year and a month).
Scott is now five years old, and will be attending kindergarden in September. He has been spending the summer learning to swim, meeting new friends and keeping us very busy.
First of all, we’ve given Scott’s site a bit of a face-lift. We also promise to keep the site more up to date. Shelley does a good job keeping new pictures on the site, but I’ve not kept the updates coming.
Since it’s been more than a year since the last update, there are lots of new things to tell you. Scott has had more eye surgery to help his left eye, and that eye has stabilized. It is not much use for him right now, but it is healthy, and hopefully will provide his other eye a little assistance from time to time. His right eye has remained in good condition, and it’s outlook is good (pun slightly intended).
On the hearing front, Scott has done well with his hearing aids over the past year. Although he had to cope with numerous equipment failures, he was very good about keeping them on. Recently though, Scott has had trouble hearing, and a test at Children’s Hospital revealed that he has lost more of his hearing. His hearing aids are not strong enough to overcome the kind of loss he has. On the up-side, Scott may now qualify for a cochlear implant, which can provide enough hearing to function very well, and learn to vocalize.
Medical events aside, Scott is having a wonderful summer. He absolutely loves to be outdoors, and can be seen kicking his soccer ball around the yard, and laughing hard enough to fall down.
Today is close to the day where Scott was supposed to have been born, if he hadn’t been in such of a hurry to greet the world. As you may have noticed form the pictures, Scott is now outfitted with fancy new glasses. He has had a few more surgeries on his left eye in the past few months, and all have gone well. The chances for useful vision in his left eye are still quite slim, but the doctors are working hard to maintain the health of that eye. His right eye is fine, but is quite near sighted.
Getting glasses was a worry for us, as we were sure he would toss them across the room when left alone. Sure enough, Scott thought we were crazy when we first put on his glasses, but after the drive home, he was fine. He rarely takes them off, and when he does, it’s usually due to an unrelated protest. He can see so much better with his glasses, and his world has expanded greatly.
In addition to his new spectacles, Scott has discovered that he need not stay in one place. He is now crawling all over the place, and climbing whatever he can find. Although he cannot yet walk on his own, he walks holding onto whatever, and whomever he can find. He can climb the two flights of stairs to his room, and can mount his rocking horse all on his own. It is only a matter of time before he figures out the whole walking thing.
Scott’s hearing has improved with some adjustments in his hearing aids, and he now responds to a large variety of sounds. We have had regular visits with two wonderful people form the Family Hearing Resource Center, who have been working with Scott to teach him to relate sound with his environment, and also giving us lessons in sign language.
Scott now weighs a bit less than 14 pounds, and while that is much lower than average for even his corrected age, his growth chart is very steady, he eats everything we give him, and the doctors are very pleased with his physical, mental, and social progress. He sleeps well, usually through the night, and remains an extremely happy, curious, and energetic little boy.
The operation was a complete success. His doctor was able to insert the entire device into his cochlea, which will allow all available electrodes to stimulate his auditory nerve, giving him the best range of sounds. He was awake and alert in the early afternoon, and while most people struggle to get down some broth, this hospital veteran wolfed down most of a chicken burger for dinner. When he was awake enough to wear his glasses and sit up on his own, we gave him a present we had bought for him a few days ago. Apple’s new iPad – a tablet based computer that runs the same software he has learned to use on his iPod, but with a larger screen that is much easier on his eyes. He loved it. Who wouldn’t?
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