Jenny

The other day Silvi and I took a walk to downtown Linden Hills (not even a block away, I love where we live!). We popped into Sebastian Joe's for an ice cream. As we were leaving I saw a lady walking with another young lady into Bibelot (a fun, girly kind of shop). I noticed that the young lady only slightly looked like she had Down Syndrome. I followed them into the store even though I had not intended on going in previously. Ok, so I've kind of gotten a little bolder in my old age...I observed the two women as they shopped. When the older lady was separated from the younger and went up to pay I walked up to her. I asked, "Is that your daughter?", "No, actually she's my niece", she said. I then asked, "Does she have Down Syndrome?". Her smile faded as I asked the question. "Yes, she does.", was her response. I then said, "My son has Down Syndrome too." She immediately stepped out of line, eager to talk to me.

Jenny is 25 years old. She had just moved into a house with some other girls. She graduated from High School and reads such books as Hannah Montana. Now this part really amazed me, Jenny has had "0" surgeries, I mean none! I couldn't believe my ears. How wonderful for her and her family. I wish that were the case for my Ian and for all others with Ds.

All Done - for now at least! :0 )

Ian's surgery was a success. The ENT was able to put tubes in BOTH ears. He cried really hard afterwards, we could hear him down the hall before we got to see him after the deed was done. He was white as a sheet when we first saw him. I nursed him right away and the color came back into his cheeks and he was even smiling and laughing with his daddy before we left the hospital. So, we are SO relieved that the surgery is done. The ENT said however that the tubes are so small they may fall out in a couple of months. Therefore we may be able to look forward to doing this all again real soon. Lucky us-NOT! Anyway, just wanted to let you know that our boy is doing just fine and to thank you all for your guidance, thoughts and/or prayers for Ian and our whole family. We really appreciate your kindness and support.

Surgery

I sure appreciate all of your feedback on the tubes subject. I asked Ian's Ped. why exactly we were having tubes put in when no one has ever seen Ian's eardrums and no one knows why he isn't hearing (it was the ENT's suggestion to do tubes). I asked if the surgery is kind of something just to try and see if it works. I asked if an ABR should be done first. He said an ABR would tell us that he is not hearing but not why. Our Ped. then said he wasn't sure why tubes were suggested if the exact cause of the hearing problems has been determined. So, he called the audiology dept. at Children's Hospital. Our Ped. called us back saying that there had been a Tempanogram done in January showing that there is fluid in Ian's ears. So, I am very glad that this surgery is not being done blindly, that there is a concrete problem and hopefully solution to Ian's hearing difficulty. Ian's surgery is on Tues., July 22nd at 11:30. We'd appreciate your thoughts and/or prayers. Thanks for "listening"! We are very grateful to have your support! :0)

Tubes

Just got back from the ENT at Children's Hospital (Minneapolis). It looks like our little guy is going to need tubes after failing four hearing tests. No one has ever seen Ian's ear drums, his ear canals are too small. His ENT said he has never seen canals so small and may not even be able to put a tube in his left ear. I had my suspicions that Ian may need tubes because that seems to be the going trend in our Ds Group, but to actually find out that it's for sure that he does is hard. Our poor, sweet guy has had to endure so much suffering in his small life. It's not fair.