Miata Has Hearing!

Thursday after school we started our trip to Virginia. The drive was smooth and uneventful and we arrived at Ellen’s parent’s house around 9:15 pm. After showing us around their gorgeous home we sat and enjoyed about 1 ½ hours together. Mary and I sat and talked while Miata and Claude spent time singing songs together. We felt most comfortable there and I am so very thankful for this wonderful gift!! It was nice to get a good night’s rest and then leave the next morning at a descent time plus it broke up my driving time! I would have had to leave about 3:45am and drove 5 ½ hours to the appt. and then after the appt. got right back on the road for the 5 ½ hour trip home! So this was a huge blessing! Thank You... Thank You... Ellen, Mary, & Claude for your kindness and hospitality!! It is/was greatly appreciated!!

As for Miata...

After waiting 1 ½ in the waiting area, due to all the doctors having to learn a new computer system that was implemented throughout UVA, we finally saw Dr. Kesser. He removed the packing from Miata’s ear (which took about 10 minutes) and then he asked her, “Can you hear me?” She said, “yes and your loud! That was definitely a good sign!! After checking down in her ear a little more and also removing some stitches on the outside he then tested her hearing with a tuning fork. She was able to hear the sound for quite some time even when I could barely hear it when he held it next to my ear. This too was a good sign! Next he placed some antibiotic drops inside her ear and then some ointment. He showed me where to apply the ointment because I will again have to do this for the next month. When I asked about going to Audiology next he said normally he does not test the children until their one month post op. This is to allow for more healing as well as complete the series of ear drops and ointment. But he did go ahead and send us to Audiology for a quick rough hearing test. This test showed that she had moderate hearing. Normal hearing falls in the range from 0 – 25 across all test frequencies and Miata’s showed the range of 35-45! So this is a huge improvement from her not hearing at all from that ear when tested through Air Conduction (from outside the ear.) Now she tested just a little below normal depending on the frequency. There are certain frequencies that she will never hear really well but that was to be expected and is not the frequency that people speak at so it isn’t that important. This quick test was also performed with ear drops in her ear as well as with quite a bit of ointment packed in her ear! We are very pleased with everything and are so happy for Miata! Please keep praying that her ear will continue to heal with no complications and for the next in-depth hearing test to reveal as good if not better results!!

1st Post Op Appointment

Miata has her 1st post-op appointment on Friday at 9:45am. This is when Dr. Kesser will remove the packing from her ear! After that we will go to Audiology where they will perform another hearing test on Miata. Please pray that the results will be good! After the hearing test we will return to Dr. Kesser's office for more evaluations.

My original plan for this trip was to wake up very early and be on the road by 4:00 AM BUT amazingly the Lord has again blessed us when we least expected it! I had someone I work with approach me last week and ask me what my plans were for this trip. I explained that Miata's appt. was early so we would head out very early to make that appointment. Well she told me that her parents lived about an hour away and that we were more than welcome to stay there the night before so that we could get a good night's rest and then wouldn't have to leave until about 8:30 the next morning to make the appt. After talking more with Ellen (friend I work with) about this generous offer and then talking with her mom, that is now what we are going to do!! So tomorrow right after school/work Miata and I will begin our trip to VA!

I will update hopefully Friday night after we get back home. If I am too tired it may be Saturday!

A Quick Update...
Last Wednesday morning when I went to apply the Bacatracin ointment on Miata's ear I noticed a small spot that hadn't been there before. Well I didn't think much about it and just applied the Bacatracin and headed out for school/work. Then the next morning when I went to apply the ointment I noticed that same spot but now it looked like a tiny opening (hole.) I was a little concerned but thought I would just keep an eye on it. That same day (Thursday) me and the girls headed to Lexington, VA to take Kasity to see Zach at VMI. We didn't get there until late and we were tired so we went right to bed. The next morning (Friday) I again went to apply the ointment and by now the hole was even larger. So I decided to take a picture and text it to Dr. Kesser's assistant because Dr. Kesser was out of town at a medical conference (which is why I didn't try and contact him when I first noticed the spot.) Anyways, I asked Ronny if he could have another physician look at the picture and tell me whether I needed to bring her there or not, since I was in VA. Well, after the doctor's evaluation they wanted me to bring her in. So, I had to cancel the plans we had for Kasity & Zach and Miata & I headed to UVA about an hour away. Once there... the doctor that saw Miata said that it was time for the stitches in that area to dissolve which was normal but that that part of the incision hadn't healed together so when the stitches did dissolve this section re-opened. I was hoping he would put a stitch or two back in so that it would close and heal nicely but he didn't. When he was evaluating that opening/hole he was able to squeeze something out of it and he was afraid it might be a little fluid. I told him it was most likely just the Bacatracin that I had applied this morning but he said he would feel more comfortable to just leave it and let it heal the way it was to make sure there was NO fluid inside that hole. Of course I agreed even though this meant it would not heal as nicely and would now leave a much larger and uglier scar:( He also placed a strip of Steri-Tape on her ear to keep it pulled back so that the opening/hole would not get any larger (this would stay on a couple of days and then come off.) The doctor also wanted to keep Miata on her antibiotic for another week just to make sure there is no infection. Anyways, we then made our hour trip back to VMI which by this time was around 4:00 in the evening. We stayed in Lexington two more days visiting with Zach and we returned back to Wilmington Sunday night about 8:00.

Girls at VMI

Released this morning & now Home!

About 6:00 this morning one of Dr. Kesser's resident doctors came in and removed the bandage from Miata's ear and from her arm (where they harvested the skin for the skin grafting of the ear canal.)
When he removed the one from her arm it was quite uncomfortable and she complained a little about the pain. The nurse came in and gave her a little pain medicine to help the pain go away. This was to be expected! This is the area Dr. Kesser said the children always feel the most discomfort. Amazing to think of the in depth surgery that takes place within the ear yet that part is not discomforting at all just the skin graft area!?!

Anyways, once he finished the removal of bandages, he said Dr. Kesser would be in around 7:15 to evaluate Miata's ear and arm and to go over all the post op care then he would discharge her. Well right at 7:15 Dr. Kesser, along with his resident doctors (about 6 of them), all came in to see Miata and to watch Dr. Kesser for learning purposes. Dr. Kesser said everything looked great and all should heal nicely. Miata's arm area was oozing quite a bit which she did NOT like so Dr. Kesser re wrapped it and told me just to remove this bandage tomorrow. This area is suppose to stay open/unwrapped because that is how it heals best. Unfortunately it will continue to ooze for a few days until it begins to dry up and heal a bit more. There is a yellowish material which covers this area (a bit hard to see it) which will fall off in about a week. Then the healing and regrowth of new fresh skin will continue although it will take quite some time for that new fresh skin to thicken and become tougher, like the rest of the arm. This area should heal well but still may obtain a more lighter/whiter appearance than the rest of her arm... time will tell. Poor baby has two good size scars on her abdomen area and now this area of her arm. She has certainly been through a lot in ten months (four surgeries!) BUT to gain hearing in that ear for the rest of her life I feel will be worth it in the end (I certainly pray it will!)

Oh yea, nurse Keegan also came in and removed the IV line from Miata's hand. Then she made her way out to get Miata one last red popsicle! When she returned with the popsicle she also brought two stethoscopes, one for Miata & one for Jadeyn! Miata was very happy with this special gift and right away had to listen to Ms. Bunny's heart! Unfortunately poor Ms. Bunny's heart didn't sound so great :)

After leaving the hospital I took Miata for her favorite... Bacon & Egg Biscuit! She hadn't eaten (other than a few Ritz Bits cheese crackers) since the night before so she was very hungry! Next we were on our way home. We finally made it home about 4:00... I unloaded everything and went right to sleep! I had not slept much for the last three nights so I was exhausted! After an hour nap I felt much better and was ready to cook dinner for everyone! It feels good to be home!

I want to thank everyone for the many prayers lifted up on Miata's behalf!!

On another note...
If you recall during Miata's surgery in July with Dr. Brent he pierced her ears. Well, before this surgery I had to take out the earrings. Also, if you recall in my earlier post I commented about the section of Miata's ear that has reconnected in the back. Due to this reconnection I was only able to find one pair of hoop earrings that I could get in Miata's ear! Unfortunately from first putting those earrings in until now it has worsened to the point that I now, sadly, have made the decision that I cannot place an earring back in that ear. So today once the bandage was removed I replaced the earring in her left ear but had to tell her I was letting the right ear close due to not having enough space in the back for an earring. She isn't happy with just having one earring but I do not want her to have to go through re-piercing both ears again! In my heart I know that she has to have one more surgery to correct this but not sure when that surgery will be. Soon I will have a consultation with Dr. Brent and possibly another surgeon to see what we need to do. Anyways, I figure the doctor can just re-pierce that one ear during that surgery. Then we only have to doctor it for the next 8 weeks instead of having to do it with both ears.

Anyways I say all that to ask... please keep Miata in your prayers for what the future plans will be for the next step/surgery for her!

Also, please be praying for her post-op visit which will be on October 8th at 9:45am. This is when Dr. Kesser will remove all the packing that is currently inside her ear right now. This is the moment that she will begin to hear from that ear!! Then at 10:00am she has an audiology appt. to test her hearing!! Please pray that the results will be good!!

I will post more at the time of her post-op visit.

Surgery Update...

Picture of Miata & Dr. Kesser just before taking her to the OR room for surgery.






At about 11:30, while I was still in the waiting room, I received a call from the OR just to let me know that everything was going well and that they had a little longer before they would be finished. Then at about 12:25 Dr. Kesser came to the waiting area to ,tell me that Miata's surgery was complete and that everything went well and that Miata did wonderful during surgery... no problems at all.. praise the Lord!! I was then able to go to the recovery area to be with her. She was just waking up when I got to her bedside. It took about 20 minutes before she really came to and began to talk a little. Once she was totally coherant... of course the first thing she asked for was a popsicle! She totally looks forward to the popsicles right after surgery :)

After a short time in recovery we were then our way to the seventh floor, the pediatric ward, where we will be staying through the night. Once on the seventh floor a nurse came to us and said this must be Miata Keegan! I said, yes! She laughed and said I think it is so funny that I am going to be her nurse... a bit puzzled, I wondered, why? She then showed me her name tag and said my name is Kelly Keegan!! She then said I have not seen the last name Keegan except with my own family members (she is still single so it is her birth name.) Of course I too was amazed... I haven't seen this name other than with Tim's family. Anyways, she is a very sweet nurse and will be checking in on Miata throughout her shift.

As for how Miata is doing...

Other than the little bit of a queezy stomach directly after surgery and the soreness in her arm where the blood pressure cuff was on it through surgery, she has done really well. Dr. Kesser explained to us that after this surgery she might experience a bit of nausea due to the nerves that run through the ear to the mouth and then has a direct affect to the stomach (go figure!?!) Anyways, they gave her some medicine for the nausea and from that point she has been fine. She is now enjoying watching TV and eating more popsicles! Later she will try eating a little dinner.

Oh by the way... Ms. Bunny must have also had some type of work done on her ear since she too came out of surgery with a new bandage on it, as well as an ID tag on her ankle to match Miata's!! Miata reall enjoys this part of surgery too!

In the morning Dr. Kesser will come back and check on her. He will then remove the bandage from her head and give us her discharge instructions. She is happy about not having to keep a bandage on her head for a long time, this time! But she will have packing in that ear for two weeks... until we come back for her 1st post-op visit.

I will update again once Dr. Kesser comes back and releases her.

Surgery Day!

We arrived at the hospital just shy of 6:00am and got Miata admitted for surgery. As we waited in the waiting area Miata found a book and began to read to her bunny! Bunny will again go into surgery with her and may also have a procedure which will require a new bandage on her ear :) Once they called us a nurse then took us to the pre-op area for the surgery team to make their rounds in & out of our room for the series of questions they need to ask and to explan what they would be doing during surgery. After all the needed prep work was done they wheeled Miata into the surgery room and they allowed me to also go in with her. They moved her onto the operating table and the anesthesiologist placed the gas mask on her. I sat beside her as he did this and then once he started the flow of medicine she quickly went to sleep. I then made my way out and to the waiting area.

Surgery should be complete sometime between 12:00 - 1:00. Please be praying for Miata and for all to go well during surgery and also the healing after surgery. After her surgery I will meet her in the recovery room where she will stay a while and then they will move her into a regular room. I will update again as soon as I am able.

Pre-op Visit!

A quick update on today...
We arrived safely here in Charlottesville, VA and made our way to the University of Virginia where Dr. Kesser is located. Once we checked in Miata had to go to Audiology to have another hearing test performed before surgery. Just as her last hearing test revealed, she has perfect hearing in her left ear and in her right ear when tested internally through bone conduction testing she also has normal hearing in that right ear. Of course when tested externally on the right ear she cannot hear but hopefully after this surgery all that will change! (Below I have re-posted Miata's April 22nd visit with Dr. Kesser and her hearing test along with the explanation of how the test works.)

Anyways, after her hearing test was complete we made our way upstairs to see Dr. Kesser. He again evaluated her ear, did some testing on it as well, and then we spent a while going over all that he would be doing in surgery tomorrow and what to expect after surgery. He and Dr. Brent are by far the most humble and gentle doctors who truly do the "extras" to make sure their patients (and parents) fully understand the procedures and are comfortable with what is going to take place. I am so grateful for these special doctors and feel most blessed in having them perform these miraculous surgeries on Miata!

Well, after we left the hospital we went to dinner then made our way to our hotel to settle in for the night. It was early to bed since we have to wake at 4:45 to get to the hospital by 6:00am!

April 22nd POST - Hearing Test Results...











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Friday, April 2nd, began our spring break and we started out early! Miata had an appointment with Dr. Kesser (the other "Best" doctor - for the Atresia part of her ear) so we were on the road by 6:30am to make it to her 1:30 appointment. Once we arrived we had to take her to Audiology to have another hearing test done on both of her ears. The charts above show the results of her hearing test. The X represents the testing (Air & Bone Conduction Test) on her left ear. The triangle & circle represents the Air Conduction Test on her right ear. The [ (shown to the side of the X's) represent the Bone Conduction Test (testing of her inner ear hearing) on her right ear. What these results mean is... She has perfectly normal hearing in her left ear and severe hearing loss in her right ear, when tested by way of Air Conduction Testing (testing from the outside of the ear.) BUT when tested, by way of Bone Conduction Testing (hooked up to the bone behind the ear to test the hearing inside the ear) she shows (it is this symbol [ beside the X's)perfectly normal hearing in her right ear! So this means her severe hearing loss is ONLY because no sound is able to get through the bone (skull) into her inner ear! Which is why we are on this path... to give her this incredible gift of hearing which she already has but just can't utilize or even realize it yet! Have you ever covered one ear and spoke or listened to someone speaking or went into a room with many sounds/noise (i.e. classroom, home with many members, party, etc.) and then tried to hear someone talking to you (which is the hardest for Miata)? Try it for a few minutes... this is how Miata hears every day of her life. Oh how amazed she will be the first time she hears in stereo!

Surgery for HEARING!!!

Well it is finally time for Miata to have her Atresia surgery which is in Charlottesville, VA (University of Virginia) where Dr. Kesser is located! During this five hour surgery Dr. Kesser will create Miata an ear canal, line that new ear canal with skin grafting, and create the flap of skin (more skin grafting) for creating her ear drum. Please pray that all goes well with her surgery and that soon she will be able to hear from that ear! This is what we have been working toward for the past year and it is hard to believe that we are finally at this stage!

As for how Miata has been doing from the last surgery...
Her ear has healed very nicely and there have been no problems at all from this surgery. We unfortunately do have a bit of not so good news. The morning Miata went in for this last surgery (in July) with Dr. Brent I had a consultation with him regarding an area of concern from the healing of the prior surgery where the ear was elevated away from the head and the skin grafting was performed and put in place behind the ear. Well during the healing of that skin grafting there was a section of the ear that grew together (reconnected at the back - which is why there is a defined line in her ear.) At the time of this consultation I asked Dr. Brent if it would be possible for him to correct this during this surgery but unfortunately there was no way he could do it because it will require more skin grafting and much more time in surgery which there was no additional allotted time. So what that means is that she will have to endure yet another surgery to correct this!!

Pondering... Random Thoughts...
To think of this precious little life and all she has endured in her short 7 1/2 years. Born of a woman that she will never know. Abandoned in front of a medical clinic at 1 1/2 days old for a reason never to be known or understood. Born also with two special needs to endure for the rest of her life. Placed in an orphanage where she lived for the first 2 1/2 years of her life. BUT adopted into a family, our family, that loves her more than words can express!!! From that point... having to leave her birth country to never again truly know or understand her people, heritage & culture, having to begin again in learning a new language, correct behavior, obedience, how to function in a family, etc. Then onto having to endure surgery after surgery! Wow, to reflect on where she has been and how far she has come is overwhelming! And to think... We could have missed this!!!! We could have totally missed the abundant blessings the Lord has so graciously showered us with through our three adopted girls just by staying in our comfort zone and turning a blind cheek to the need of orphans! There are over 130 million orphans who desperately await for someone to step out of their comfort zone and with open arms take them into their family and show them the love that our Savior Jesus Christ showed us by adopting us into His family!! James 1:27 says... Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless (orphans) and widows in their affliction. If you ever have the opportunity to be in a foreign country don't miss the opportunity to live out this command. By visiting an orphanage and seeing the many little (and older) faces of children who need nothing more in life at that moment than a family will forever change your life!!! Below are some links to orphan ministries for helping orphans, adoption, even going on a mission trip to visit orphans...

• Orphan Sunday is November 7, 2010
• America World Adoption
• Visiting Orphans
• Cry of the Orphan
• Hope for Orphans
• Love Without Boundaries
• Half the Sky
• Shepherd's Field - American run orphanage in Beijing (for special need babies)
• Maria's Big House of Hope
• Show Hope

ESPN Highlights Adoption


ESPN segment highlights the touching adoption testimony of Georgia Bulldogs head coach, Mark Richt and his wife. Compelled by the biblical mandate of James 1:27 to care for orphans, the couple adopted two toddlers, one of whom has special needs, from the Ukraine several years ago and take time to reflect upon the blessings these children have brought into their lives.

Home At Last!

Well after our lunch at In-N-Out we stopped in Walmart to grab a few snacks for our trip home. Then we made our way to the house, gathered our bags and went to return the rental car. The lady (that remembers us) then took us to the train station because this time we didn't have a ride back to the SF airport. We arrived about 2 minutes before the train so I quickly made my way to the ticket stand. The train pulled in and I was quickly trying to obtain our tickets so we could board (the trains are only there for about a minute before leaving again.) Well I have never rode one of these trains so I wasn't familiar with the ticket process therefore I didn't obtain our tickets in time for this train. So we had to wait one hour for the next train (it runs every 30 min. all day until 4:07 then drops to every hour which the 4:07 was what we missed!) Although we had an hour to wait we had fun just hanging out in the beautiful weather which was about 73 degrees. The weather was great our entire time here!! Once we boarded the train we rode it in most of the way but had to stop at one station and then catch another one that took us the rest of the way into the airport. Our departure flight was delayed! We were due to leave at 9:32 PM but actually left at about 11:30 PM. Though it was delayed it really wasn't a big deal because we didn't have anywhere we had to be once we got home. Our flights were smooth from that point on with no additional problems. Miata slept pretty well through the night but like always I was totally unable to get any sleep on the plane! We finally made it into Raleigh at about 9:30 AM the next morning.


Tim and Jadeyn picked us up from the airport and then we headed to the Southpoint Mall for Jadeyn to get her ears pierced! Jadeyn has wanted to get her ear pierced for quite some time but she was waiting for Miata to be able to also get hers pierced! So since Miata had hers pierced during surgery she was so excited and couldn't wait for us to get home so she could get hers done! She was so sweet in wanting to wait for Miata and then Miata gets hers done first! She didn't care though she was just so happy! We took her to Claire's inside the mall where she picked out the earrings she wanted and jumped in the chair ready to have them put in. Since she is our most sensitive little one I truly thought I would see a few tears when the girl actually pierced them but we didn't! Not a single tear, just still all smiles!! She is such our girly girl and she was now so very happy to see these cute little earrings in her ears that it was quite humorous. Well after the ear piercing we made our way to the food court for lunch. Then we headed for Wilmington. I tried to sleep in the car but again like always couldn't. I truly can not sleep unless I am in a bed!! We made it home and although I was tired I held off until bedtime before going to sleep. I had now been up all day Friday, all night Friday night, and all day Saturday!! Needless to say when I finally went to sleep I slept well!!

As for Miata's ear... It looks great and is healing nicely! She is looking forward to being able to remove the suture threads from her ears and put pretty earrings in like Jadeyn now has! Her next surgery is scheduled for September 23rd. This surgery will be performed by Dr. Kesser in Virginia. Dr. Kesser will open/create her an ear canal and after all is complete and healed she will be able to hear from this ear! I will post again when the time comes for this surgery.


Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!!

Lunch before Departure!

Yesterday we spent most of the morning packing our suitcase so we would be ready to leave when the time came. Around lunch time we headed out to eat and made our way to In-N-Out Burger! If you have ever lived in California or even just visited I'm sure you probably heard of In-n-Out. It is a famous fast food burger place in CA. It is a basic burger joint serving only burgers and fries. Tim asks me each time I am out here, "Have you eaten at In-N-Out yet?" If you are from California (Tim is) and you now go there to visit you HAVE to go to In-N-Out to eat! Anyways, each time he asks I tell him no. Burgers and fries isn't something I normally eat often. So I decided since this is my third trip out here and now my last day we will go there for lunch. When we arrived there wasn't a parking spot to be found! The parking lot was at least four times the size of the facility and yet still not a parking spot anywhere! The drive through was wrapped totally around the building through the parking lot and even out onto the main road! Cars were parked in every parking spot and even along side of every curb! And this was even after the lunch rush! Totally crazy!! Once we snaked into a parking spot and made our way inside of course they were busy with customers standing everywhere. We finally made our way to order and once done the cashier handed me my receipt and said you are number 44. While she was telling me I was number 44 the guy beside me was holding a ticket & food and yelled out number 14 your order is ready! I thought to myself, you have got to be kidding me!! Number 14 and I am number 44!! Of course there was not a seat to be found so you have to find someone who is almost done eating and kinda stand around so you can grab their table as soon as they stand to leave! Though they are this crowded and people are waiting everywhere there is no one angry or upset rather they are all just hanging around waiting for their food or eating and enjoying their food. Well we waited about 25 minutes for food. How was it? It was pretty good. The fries, which they use fresh potatoes and cut into fries, were really good. The price was really good as well! They are definitely cheaper than most places (McDonald's, Chick Fila, etc.) on everything. Overall we enjoyed our lunch but more enjoyable was just the experience.

Day 9 - Departure Day (Actually Night!)

Today is the day!!! We leave!!!
Though our time here was great... we are so ready to get home!!! We will just hang out today around town probably at the library for most of the day. Then between 3:00 - 4:00 we will return the rental car to Hertz. This time we do not have a ride back to the airport because Mrs. Arlene & Jack left to go out of town for a few days. So, I will have someone at Hertz take us to the train station where we will ride a couple of different trains in order to get to the San Francisco airport. We will get off of the Caltrain at the Milbrae stop and then get onto a Bart Lightrail which is faster than the Caltrain. We take that one to the airport which I think takes about 2 minutes. Our flight is not until 9:30 so we will have plenty of time waiting around before departure time. I just want to make sure I am there early so there are no problems!! Although I can only try to avoid problems on my end!! I sure hope that there are no problems this trip on United's part!!!

Please pray for us to have a smooth uneventful trip home!!! It will be a long night! We arrive in Raleigh tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM.