We have a date!

 UPDATE: I felt the need to come back and update this post as we have learned that Audrena's Usher Syndrome diagnosis was a mistake. Here is the post where we learned she does not have Usher Syndrome.

On a happy note, we have a date for Audrena's left ear cochlear implant surgery! If all goes as planned, she will have two working "ears" before Memorial Day!

We went to see Dr. L. last week, and he removed the packing material from her ear. Everything looked good, and he said he was ready to schedule the implant surgery.

We talked a little bit with him about the Usher Syndrome diagnosis. It was kind of out of his area of expertise, but his advice was to do whatever we could to protect Audrena's eyes because with her vestibular dysfunction she would need vision to help with her balance. He said the University of Iowa was a great place to be going.

During the appointment, I could tell that Dr. L. was really observing Audrena. She did use a few words. His nurse gave Audrena a sticker with Minnie Mouse and 3 hair bows. She brought it to me, pointed at each bow, and counted 1, 2, 3. Then she peeled the sticker, stuck it on her shirt, and tried to give the paper backing to Randy. He said, "No. Go throw it in the garbage." Audrena walked to where she thought the garbage can should be, under the counter. Dr. L. was sitting there and said something like, "It's not over here." So she turned and went to the other side of the room, where she spotted the wall-mounted garbage can. She stretched as far as she could and pushed the paper into the can. There were no visual cues. She did it all using her receptive language and listening! Yay! Audrena also played with Dr. L. a bit, getting him to put her up and down in the exam chair. Toward the end of the appointment, Dr. L. looked at us and said, "She is a very smart kid." It meant a lot coming from someone who sees children all day long! Yes, we think she is smart, too. I can't wait to see what she can do as a bilateral implant recipient!