Lauren's 10 bucks and bad luck

Long story ahead:

So last year about this time Lauren had surgery on her left ear to patch the hole that did not

grow closed after the tube which was placed when she was 5.

About a month ago I took her to our local ENT office to get fitted for ear plugs for swimming.

At that time the audiologist who did the fitting said the ear looked 'funny'.

So last week we saw the dr. He said the hole was back. The patch did not work.

He then proceeded to dig around in Lauren's ear for what seemed like 15 minutes.

I stood by Lauren and told her to squeeze my hand as hard as she could and to hold still - she nearly broke my hand. Her forehead beaded up with sweat and her face was beat red.

She did not cry.

When he finished digging out the black gunk he patted her and said, I have a special treat for you - just tell the receptionist before you leave.

As we walked out he said to me - 'Most adults would not have tolerated that like she did...she's tough'

Here she is with her special treat - you dont often leave the dr.'s office with a $10 bill in your pocket! She was thrilled.

However then I told her that she and I needed to travel to the specialist in IC who originally did the patch surgery. She knew this wasn't good news.

We went today and got the bad news. After 3 different doctors examined her already sore ear they confirmed that the hole is back. And it has to be patched. If not the hole will just continue to grow and her hearing continue to diminish in that ear.

Lauren started crying.

I was about crying.

Then our dr. told us the even worse news. He cannot redo the same relatively simple surgery. Apparently Lauren's ear drum just will not hold that simple patch.

So we now move onto the more invasive/scary surgery.

I like to refer to it as the 'FaceOff' surgery.

Behind her ear will be cut and the ear LIFTED. Then a membrane will be taken from the upper portion and the EAR DRUM WILL BE LIFTED and the back of it will be grafted.

Then the front will be grafted again.

This greatly increases the strength of the drum and the success of the surgery.

When he was done talking to me about that I was about in tears and passing out.

He stayed with us for a long time explaining things and showing me pictures.

I think I listened. A lot of it, honestly, I do not want to know will happen to my baby.

There are just way too many important nerves in that area that make me sick to my stomach.

Lauren is old enough to know that surgery is not 'fun'.

She was pretty unhappy as we left the hospital.

I knew Panera would make her happy.

I was right.

Please be in prayer for this surgery and for Lauren's nerves as she waits for the surgery day to arrive...as well as ours. I wont lie...I'm freaked out and worked up about this. Although my emotions are not the most stable at this particular time anyway!

'God is in control, God is in control, God is in control.'

Her surgery is set for September 3rd.