What about Airport Security?

Isn't it amazing what can be done through science and medicine?  Modern miracles.

Elisabeth was a recent recipient of the benefits of modern medicine.  We've known about some hearing loss in her right ear and she has gone through several appointments, tests, x-rays and doctor exams which have led up to this day.  The procedure is an exploratory tympanotomy where they go into her ear, cut through the ear drum, and then look to see if they can figure out what is causing the hearing loss.  Then, depending on what the problem is, they will fix it or close her back up if it's too risky.   

Morning drive down to Primary Children's Hospital

Once we got to Primary Children's Hospital it was a waiting game.  After waking up that morning Ellie wasn't suppose to eat anything and could only drink clear fluids.  After 9:00 she couldn't have anything.  She was such a trooper and having an explanation of why made it easy for her to follow the doctor's orders.

We finally got to go in to get prepped for her operation, however once we were in there the surgery got pushed back by over 2 hours.  Mom and dad complained more than Ellie about being hungry.  

Ellie was so brave in getting all prepped.  We had to laugh when the RN came in to check her out and after checking her ears said, "looks like you've been to the beach recently"  We were surprised by this since it has been over 2 weeks since we had been in California.

Brave Girl, no illness or fever, so she is good to go

Temporary tattoo so everyone will know which ear needs the procedure

When it was finally time to go back to the OR, the nurse and anesthesiologist took her back in a little wagon which she thought was cool.  Although I knew she was in good hands, it still broke my heart to not be able to go back with her and be there. Afterward they told us she cried when they were putting the mask on her and tried to take it off.  Ellie told us that the last thing she remembers was reaching up to pull the mask off and then she was asleep.

Ellie's surgery took about an hour and a half.  Thankfully they were able to see the problem, which was what they suspected, and were able to implant a tiny titanium bone in her ear.

We were a little worried about what condition Ellie would be in when she woke up from the anesthesia, but it turned out just fine.  She woke up in post op, sat on my lap for a while while she was watched by the nurse.   

She was a little out of it and complained about feeling kind of sick, but for the most part was fine.  In and out of sleep a little.

After a while Ellie was transferred over to the area where she would stay over night.  Dr. Muntz wanted her to stay over night in the hospital in case she was sick, but also to keep her from doing anything that would cause the bone to move out of place.  She was sick to her stomach a few times, but after a few more hours she began to gradually start eating and drinking.

Ellie felt pretty good about having to stay in the hospital over night.  In fact, when we were trying to find out if it was in fact absolutely necessary for her to stay she was a little upset at the thought of not staying.  She really wanted to have the experience of staying in the hospital and having others attend to her.  She said "it's like having servants".  I thought to myself, "isn't it just like having your mom wait on you?"

After a night in the hospital (with mom too), Elisabeth was released to leave first thing in the morning.  Doctor's orders included not submerging in water for 6 weeks, no recess or PE at school for two weeks and she had to stay home from school and take it easy for the next 3 days.

We are so grateful for modern medicine and for the doctors and specialists who were able to help our girl.  She is now able to hear better out of her right ear, not 100%, but according to her 6 week hearing tests it's not enough loss to cause her to have to have a hearing aide.

And no, her titanium ear bone will not set off the airport security alarms.