Scamps hearing has always been poor and on and off bouts of earaches have seen her visiting our GP frequently. A painfully shy child she settled in to school wonderfully but although being an avid book reader she struggled with sounding out words. Always one to watch peoples lips as they talk she’d often nod in agreement but when questioned not know what she was agreeing with. Yesterday I told her I was going for a ‘wee wee’ and when I came back down she was sat at the table with a spoon on hand awaiting the kiwi that she though I had just promised her.
Luckily Papasaurus has BUPA cover at work, all it took was visit to our GP to voice our concerns and within the space of two month we saw an ENT paediatric consultant twice, had a hearing test which told that Scamp hearing was significantly impaired by glue ear – in face she needed sound to be 8 times higher than ‘normal’ before she would hear it. Our daughter hadn’t been hearing well at all – it was likened to listening to sounds under water.
Infrequent ear ache, continuous hearing problems which have been getting worse week by week, falling behind in school, not able to hear the softer phonetic sounds.
Until today.
Scamp went in to hospital today for bilateral grommet surgery to both ears and everything has changed literally within an hour.
*I don’t know why I feel the need to add this but this isn’t some sort of BUPA sponsored shizzle, I love the NHS but hwe had a choice of a 2 year waiting list or a 2 month waiting list so it was a no brainer as far as we were concerned*
An early start for us we arrived at the hospital at 7am. Scamp was greeted in her own room by the nurse that she had already met in a sort of hospital show and tell a week ago, some sort of pink unicorn / vet car assortment was awaiting her arrival. Shortly after the nurse applied numbing cream to the backs of Scamps hands in preparation for the general anesthetic, however when the anesthetist dropped in to see us he voiced concerns over Scamps veins in her hands being hard to find and after discussion we decided that being ‘put under’ by gas from a mask would be less upsetting for her.
Luckily Scamp was the ‘first in’ to be operated on, once we were in the anesthetists room I led her on the bed whilst she clutched my neck and Clara her cuddly alpaca (kindly sent to her by fellow blogger and friend Jenny), she looked scared, tears welled in her eyes as the mask was held softly over her face and she was told a story about a talking alpaca. A minute later she was ‘asleep’. That was a really emotional moment, one I thought I’d be fine with but actually shook me up a fair bit. A hug and a hot cup of tea from the nurse later and I was sat starting at Scamp’s empty bed as she was operated on.
I was called as soon as she came round and was met with a near hysterical screaming 4 year old who was trying to climb over the cot sides of the bed. The nurses encouraged me to get on to the bed too to console her which I did all too happily but she was what I can only describe as delirious for a good twenty minutes, crying for me even though I was there, shouting to go home. The nursing staff assured me that that was normal, it was the shock of waking up somewhere unfamiliar feeling woozy to blame.
Back in her room and we led on the bed together for an hour, she calmed down, I started to relax and before we knew it a fruity ice lolly had arrived and she was sat up yamming it. The she welled up with tears, looked up and said…
“I can hear mamma – I can hear!”
At which point I started crying like a baby.
The surgeon came along to explain how the op had gone (well) and that the fluid in her ears had been really gloopy (sorry) and she was being sent home with ear drops to use for the next couple of days and we left, arms full of info, some certificates of bravery and a lovely elephant teddy c/o the hospital.
We got in the car, I started the engine and she turned to me and asked ‘What’s that noise mamma?’ and I realised, it’s the car, she’s never heard the car before.
And I cried like a baby again, happy tears. It’s been a very emotional day and we are just so very happy that she’s hearing things x
And now I’m crying too. Bless your little Scamps. So many things that we often take for granted are truly miracles
Galina V recently posted..Lazy pancakes
Thank you lovely lady – it’s just such a happy day!
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
Wonderful news, I am so happy that everything worked out for Scamp. Hugs.
AlwaysARedhead recently posted..Dinner with our children
Thank you Catherine – I hope your son is feeling better x
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
fantastic news, gorgeous little Scamp xx
Super Amazing Mum recently posted..Making Waves for Alex Winter Wonderland Ball
I do feel like a party is in order!
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
I cried so much when I read this post! It’s so good that she’s going to be able to hear again! Deafness is so cruel in children.
Michelle Willis (@Gifted_Goodies) recently posted..Thanks a lot guys!
And children are so wiley and adaptable too – they hide the true extent so well just because they get on with things, it’s a lot harder than you’d think to see how bad it is. We have been beating ourselves up that we didn’t do more sooner x
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
Well done brave Scamp! and well done Brave mamma! There are tears in my eyes reading this, how amazing it must be to hear properly for the first time! She has so much to look forward to! x x
Mary recently posted..10 days missing!
It’s just so wonderful Mary!
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
I’m so glad the operation was a success! Although it’s never nice watching your child be put to sleep under anaesthetic the results of the operation are worth it! My 6yr old had the same operation last year (on the NHS but thankfully they were really quick and she was only on the waiting list for a month) and she has gone fro strength to strength. She has gone from a painfully shy child who wouldn’t speak outside the house, to a popular social child who enjoys joining in with her friends and although her speech still needs a little work because of her hearing loss, she is getting there. She had a check-up last month and they were impressed she hadn’t suffered any infections since the operation and although she has lost one grommet and has a slight build up of fluid in that ear, she hasn’t any hearing loss and they’re looking at discharging her in 6mths if everything carries on the way it is. I also remember the first time I saw her clamp her hands over her ears when I dropped a pan, that was the moment I KNEW she could hear again! Well done Scamp on being so brave!!!
Really Rachel recently posted..Pregnancy and Chickenpox Antibodies Injection
Wow it’s great to read that Rachel! Scamps always struggled with social situations – parties, gatherings and the like. We always just put it down to her being a mummy’s girl but now we are thinking more and more that it was just the uncertainty of entering a room where she’s unsure of what is being said. It just goes to show how easy it is to dismiss a child as just being shy – my eyes have been opened!
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
I’m just crying my eyes out. I’m such an emotional cow, but I am so so happy for Scamp. Glad she did so well today. You must be very proud of her and so happy that she can finally hear properly x
Carolin recently posted..How to teach children about money
She was very brave today, must have been very scary at times – thanks Carolin x
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
Wonderful! I’m so glad it all went smoothly and Scamp has bounced back so quickly. It must have been so scary for you both though so well done for holding it together. x
Cat (Yellow Days) recently posted..Roasted Butternut Squash and Sage Soup
Thank Cat, other than a emotionally hard hour or so it’s been quite smooth sailing x
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
Oh bless that’s so wonderful, so glad it went so well
Mrs Teepot recently posted..100 Word Challenge: I nearly forgot
Thank you Tee-ey one x
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
Wow I am crying like a loony! So glad to hear scamps op went so well. Lovely post
Thank you – such a happy teary day !
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
Oh I’m so pleased to read this – it has brought back so many memories. I had forgotten that my little one asked me to turn the car radio down as we drove home that day – too loud to his little new ears! Well done Scamp! (And Mum
)
Kate Takes 5 (@KateTakes5) recently posted..‘A child like you’ A guest post by one of my favourite bloggers!
Thanks Kate! She asked me to turn the tv down tonight – after months and months of saying she can’t hear it despite it being super loud!
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
Oh queen scamp wait till we meet you won’t fail to hear me, I’m just one part of the decibel trio! Love to you my lovely x
HPMcQ recently posted..365 11.02.13
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
I have just sobbed! So so glad it all went so well. Xx
Mummy Glitzer recently posted..What is Domestic Violence? – A guest post
Aw! can you imagine the state of me today! I feel like an emo teenager!
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
oh bless her little cottons!
I’m glad that everything went smoothly for both you and little scamp. Admittedly I cried just a wee bit reading this.
Karina recently posted..Eureka! – The National Children’s Museum Review
*passes hanky*
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
So delighted for her! *wells up AGAIN* xx
Me too Sonya, me too… *cracks open Kleenex*
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
Brilliant news! Brave New Scamp with super hearing! Pretty brave Mammasaurus too by this account. My nephew had the same thing. It must be a total revelation. x
Bibsey Mama recently posted..Home Alone II
It’s mind blowing when you stop and think about it – the difference it must make!
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
How wonderful for all of you. I guess it’s like rediscovering the world. xxx
danni recently posted..Red Nose Day and their #GoodWork
It’s really weird, it’s like only now are we finding out what she couldn’t hear before x
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
Our youngest had to have an emergency op when he was just 2 and that moment when they took him was the darkest hour. So glad to hear all went well, but I can definitely empathise with how emotional your day must have been x
Oh crikey Rach that sounds incredibly stressful. I have to admit that I wasn’t at all phased by the cannula and needle method and when they mentioned the mask and ‘gas’ and pre-warned me that if she becomes distressed she’d need to be held down I was also very matter-of-fact about it. Sort of ‘it needs to be done’ and ‘it’s just a minute of upset traded off for the benefits of hearing properly’.
But when it happened it was really difficult x
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
Oh god, I would have been a mess – they’d have had to anaesthetise me too! How terrible that she has never heard properly before, but how amazing that we have the medicine to solve that problem nowadays! She will go from strength to strength! So happy for you both!
Actually Mummy… recently posted..Kerplunk! Wot so Funee?
Thanks Helen, I’m so happy and look forward to seeing if it helps her with her shyness issues now
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
Oh that’s wonderful news – and so beautifully written – we’re all crying. Very best wishes XX
Anya from Older Single Mum and The Healer recently posted..Swimming Wars.
What a beautiful story. And a reminder of how much we take things like our hearing and sight for granted. I’m so glad that your beautiful, brave little girl can hear properly! And so glad that she didn’t have to wait two years for the privilege! Thanks for sharing.
almost bedtime recently posted..A series of blog posts about bullying
Thanks Anya – happy tears though – so they are allowed
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
I shouldn’t be weeping this early in the morning! So pleased it went well. I’m a bit nervous about my boys op. It’s the fact I can’t be with him and he’s only two. You have allayed my fears! I’m really impressed that you noticed results straightaway! Good luck and a big hug to young Scamp x
I’d do it all again tomorrow – it really is momentary upset for long-term improvement, in the scheme of things it already seems such a minuscule thing! I hope your boys op goes well and that you cope ok – you know where I am if you want to natter x
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
Ahh that amazing. It’ll be like a whole new world for Scamp now. Bless her.
I’m so glad for both your sakes that you managed to get it all sorted quickly. It’ll make such a big difference for her at school.
Such lovely news. X
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Thanks Lucy x Loving the taggy love by the way !
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
Oh man, I totally bawled reading that’ what a brave girl (and a brave mama!). Xxx
Butwhymummywhy recently posted..Chicken Karahi recipe, from Indian SuperMeals
I feel like a emotional wreck now – she keeps making me cry happy tears with odd sentences!
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
Aww this is amazing! I am so pleased it went well. What a difference it will make! Bless her!
Kelly Wiffin recently posted..Pregnancy Diary – Week 10
It’s amazing the difference already!
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
You made me cry! Two brave and amazing girls. Well done both of you. X
So happy it all turned out so well! There were a few tears in my eyes too while reading… xx
Funky Wellies recently posted..Girls – Sisters
Oh me too! Thanks
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
Sob! What a wonderful story (given the outcome). I am hard of hearing and can tell you how it insulated you from the subtelies of life that every else take forgranted. I hope scamp now goes form strength to strength!
Sarah recently posted..Nose
Thanks you Sarah x
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
Bless little Scamp! I am so pleased it all went well and she can hear again! Hope you are all o.k.! x x
Charlotte recently posted..Fun Photo Fun – Animals, Bobble Hats & Bubbles
Thanks Charlotte x
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
Totally welling up at this. So wonderful for her. Lots of love to you and Scamp
*wipes tear* xx
MummyNeverSleeps recently posted..Holiday?
Here have a tissue missy x
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
Bless her, everything is going to be so new for her over the next few days then. Must have been very emotional! x
Danielle Askins recently posted..Review: MaterniCare Pre and Post Natal Nourishing Cream
Indeed! We’ve both been zonked today!
Mammasaurus recently posted..‘I can hear mamma – I can hear!’
I’m so pleased the op went well, I’m almost in tears here. I know exactly what you’re going through – Dot had the same problem a few years ago. After numerous hearing tests the doctors decided they didn’t neet to operate and her hearing was slowly improving. Today though her hearing still isn’t great, but it’s much better than it was. xx
40s Chic recently posted..Kiss and brush up – Denman for Valentine’s Day
This post has me smiling from ear to ear (geddit?)
Fabulous news and so lovely that she can now hear the real world!
Well done Scamp x
fivegoblogging recently posted..Pinaddicts and Crochet Monsters
oh gosh I’ve just blubbered most of the way through that post! What a brave little girl and how wonderful that she can now experience sounds she’s never heard before x
Nichola recently posted..Why Why Why
Oh how fab! That’s so grand she can hear much better – for you and for her, I can only imagine how much this will change her life!
So glad the op was successful. The being put under with gas I always find so hard. Was nodding in agreement with how you felt there. I can only imagine how wonderful it is to hear those words xx