Update on Hope's Hospital Visit

Hope is still at Motts since her admission on Monday. She has had a lot of tests done and everything came back normal, which is good, but frustrating. Yesterday, neurology started a long term EEG. They are hoping to catch one of Hope's breathing episodes during the monitoring. The EEG could last over 24 hours and then after that they may do a sleep study. It looks like Hope could be there a few more nights, but hopefully that will help them find some answers.

Hope is very thankful for everyone's thoughts and prayers and she is doing her best to tolerate all the extra attention.

Hope laughing with her mom during her EEG

Hope's Hospital Visit

Hope could use some extra prayers right now. She is currently in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan's Mott Children's Hospital.

As you know, Hope has been off the ventilator and doing fantastic breathing on her own! However, on Sunday morning, Hope had a little episode where she stopped breathing completely and had to get assistance from Mom & Dad. They ended up taking her to the Emergency Room, but she had stabilized by that time and really just enjoyed all the attention from the doctor's and nurses at the hospital. The doctor's said Hope could go home and gave instructions to "watch closely", as if that has EVER been a problem!! Clearly they don't understand we can't take our eyes off this cute little girl!

Then yesterday (Monday), Hope had another episode in the morning where she just wasn't breathing. So Mom got her back up and breathing, called the doctors (as well as Dad and Grandma & Grandpa R) and the doctors at Motts said they wanted to see Hope, STAT! So everyone loaded up the car and they headed down to Ann Arbor yesterday. Hope has been enjoying her hospital stay, loving the attention she is getting from everyone, being cute, per the usual. Unfortunately, the doctors needed Hope to stay overnight for monitoring. They aren't sure what is causing these episodes so they are running more tests today and hopefully we'll have some answers soon.

Keep Hope in your prayers!

Post Surgery Update

Hope made it very successfully through her cochlear implant surgery. She arrived at U of M and check in around 12:30pm on Thursday. After getting all checked out (blood pressure, temperature, weight etc) we found out that they had not reserved a bed (room) for her following the surgery. There was a scramble to find a bed and when we came close to not being able to find one for her we almost had to pack up and come home. That would not have made anyone very happy! Eventually though (about 2 hours later) they had a bed for her and Hope was wheeled off for surgery.

The surgery began with a test that involved putting needles in her ear and electrically stimulating her auditory nerve. They began with the right ear and found no response. Then they tested the left ear. They had to use more "power" than usual but were able to get a good clear response on the left side. However, they found that as they repeated the stimulation the response diminished. This is called "Adaptation". Unfortunately there isn't a lot of research or knowledge available on this condition. The surgeon felt that it was still worth proceeding and that Hope would still be able to gain access to sound by having the implant done.

Hope's mom, dad, Grandma Holtz, Grandpa Holtz, Grandma Robinson and Grandpa Robinson all waited patently in waiting area for the next 5 hours while the surgery was performed. Everyone was very eager to see her after the surgery and she looked great! She was a bit groggy but seemed to be feeling well. Hope had to stay one night in the hospital but was released the next morning. Although she has been a little more sleepy than usual, she is feeling well and is mostly back to her normal self. There is just a small incision behind her left ear. She will go back to see the surgeon again in two weeks and the big day of activation is August 17th!