Doctor Visits, Surgery and Thanksgiving

Miss A is having surgery to repair a hole in her right ear next week. It's a hole that Tubes left in her ear and it's getting bigger rather than smaller. We've repaired it once when she had her tonsils and adenoids out two years ago, but the repair did not take.

Now we are going for the big guns; the best Ear Specialist in town, a more invasive surgery that should plug that hole and restore the 10% hearing loss that she has in that ear.


This week, we've been to the eye doctor for a follow up on her lazy eye. Great news! The glasses are doing the work and we are clear for a visit until next year. She loves her new glasses and does a great job wearing them. We've also been to the Pediatrician for a pre-op physical. She's in great health and cleared for the procedure.


I got such a kick out of A's explanation of what's going on next week. She's going to "her hospital" which is the one with the great cafeteria, play room and french fries and she's probably getting a toy out of the deal, too!

This will be A's third surgery in five years. All for relatively minor things such tubes, tonsils, and now ears. She's been to more doctors, specialists and hospital rooms than our other two children combined. We call her our Health Care Spending Account Child! But she doesn't seem to mind.

She takes it all in stride.

She's happy, joyful, and funny as all get out and takes these visits to doctors as just the normal thing you do. While I realize she has nothing to complain about with all the health care issues that others are faced with such cancer, chronic illness, pain etc, she is still only 5. She could fuss or cry or scream.

Most of our visits to waiting rooms and doctors offices are filled with books, snuggle time and giggles. She thinks the eye doctor is hilarious with his little Burger King toys to watch go back and forth. She asked me why he kept asking what the letter was on the wall. Doesn't he know his letters?

Our pediatrician makes her smile when he taps her legs for reflexes and she thinks it so funny he never remembers which ear has the hole in it. Can't he see it from outside the ear?


She's our child who took Mono in stride at two, Tonsil infection upon tonsil infection with a smile, and now she's going back to her favorite Hospital just for a little visit.

She lives life with gusto. She takes what is given to her and makes the most of it.

I feel so privileged to be her mother and witness all of this along our journey together.

Today is Pregnancy Loss and Remembrance Day. Almost fourteen years ago, we lost our first baby at ten weeks. It was just days before Christmas and we were heartbroken. For months after I wondered if we would ever have children.

Never did I begin to believe that I would now be the mother of three wonderful children. Children who have forever changed who I am as a person and enriched my life so deeply.


Seeing A take this next challenge of ear surgery on with such strength and courage is just one of the blessings. I am forever grateful.

I'm praying today that God can give other mothers and fathers who are mourning the loss of babies a measure of this joy! That He can turn their mourning into dancing. That they will know that not only did that child they lost through miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death matter, they matter to God. That whatever God's ultimate plan for their family is that they will be able to find joy.