Sunday, March 21, 2010

Sorry Girls...

I have been a bad blogger this month. I have had so much on my plate that I took a little family time. I am now ready to get back on track and planning a fun prize pack for everyone next month!!
My youngest daughter has been ill lately and having problems with her ears on top of everything. We finally got a chance to see a specialist who was amazed at her. He did a hearing test and declared her legally deaf. I was in tears watching the test and seeing her NOT respond to the sounds. When we met with the doctor after the test he showed us some pictures. Although I can't remember officially what he labeled her with, I do remember the pictures he showed us. There were 4 pictures showing different levels of what she has. She was a level 4!!

He told us that she must have taught herself to read lips and learn through basic tone what certain words were. She hasn't been shy all these years but hanging back because she couldn't hear. The speech problems she was having are now because she couldn't hear. Poor baby.... all these years and nobody picked up on it. We were just repeatedly given antibiotics because "her ears were red and had some fluid buildup.... looks like she's going to get an ear infection. Take these pills."

The doctor said that she had so much fluid buildup that she must have been in constant pain for years. When he asked her she teared up and said that yes she was always sore and in pain but she learned from her Poppa to "Take the Pain." (Her Poppa had lung cancer and was always going on about taking the pain. She said that if Poppa was brave enough then she was too.)

Needless to say.... she ended up having surgery on both her ears. What a trooper she is. She was stronger and braver than I was. Here is a picture of her when she just woke up from surgery. All smiles.... as always!

She is starting to hear things she never, really noticed before. The sound of the wind chimes, the beep on the phone when you press the numbers and the sounds of the birds outside. People have even noticed that her speech has improved. The miracle of modern medicine.


Note: Have your children's hearing checked regularly.


I remember in school we would have our hearing checked every couple years when in Elementary School. I wish they still did it. Paige wouldn't have suffered years of being deaf and in constant pain and discomfort if they still did testing in school.


Thanks for all the well wishes I received on Facebook. I have more photos there. Add me as a friend if you'd like to see my sweet, brave girl.
~Tara~

9 comments:

  1. Oh my word Tara! I had no idea.I have had a similar problem,but definitely not to the extreme of yours.

    My son kept failing his pre-school hearing assessment. The nurse thought that it was lack of attention etc.but figured she should send him on for further testing.Much to my dismay as I sat in the sound proof room with him,I could see that he wasn't hearing the sounds.I could hear some of them:( He was diagnosed with a hearing loss at a certain frequency that they normally see in people who work with explosives or heavy machinery.He too has lots of fluid build up,and ear infections etc.He is tested every year now.

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  2. oh you poor thing, we went though somthing like that with our son, not as bad as you by the sounds of it tho..when they put the things in his ears to see what was going on insted of a line with peeks it was just flat!! but all fixed now with some grommits(sp) lycky us

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  3. My heart goes out to you Tara, and to Paige. I can't even imagine what you felt when you realized what Paige has been dealing with. I had tears in my eyes as I read your post. She is an amazing -- super amazing -- little girl. I'm so happy for her that the surgery worked and she can hear again. The world must be a wonderfully amazing place for her now :)

    Big {{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}

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  4. Sniff,sniff,poor little Paige . I'm so glad she is getting better.Thanks for sharing this story!

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  5. I know exactly what that poor thing has undergone. I am deaf in one ear and hearing impaired in the other. No surgery for me, but I have learned to live through it. I am so glad that she was tested when she was. I didn't get tested until 18. Your sweet little girl is brave indeed. I am so happy that she has the surgery and is starting to hear new things.....a whole new world is out there for her! I will continue to keep her and you in my prayers Tara. Celebrate those new sounds Paige!!!!!!

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  6. Oh my goodness Tara! I am so sorry you have all had to go through this! I hope things get better for her soon! Imagine how strong she is to have been able to adapt so well! Now you can enjoy with her the new experiences as she begins hearing more!

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  7. Tara! I hope your daughter is getting better!

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  8. What a journey poor Paige has had. Glad to hear that she now able to hear things she was able to. that's a great sign! Sending everyone LOTS of hugs!!!

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  9. Oh Tara, you guys have been through so much! Glad things are getting better!

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