Hospital Day 2 - Anna learns the big news!

We started our day with the booming Italian voice and outstretched arms of Dr. Colletti:  "Anna, cara mia, do you remember me?"  Anna promptly squealed with delight and clamored for a hug, which delighted Dr. Colletti and caused him to turn to his team of ten and say, "Ahh!  She remembers!  I told you about bella Anna!"

Breakfast for Anna  - referred to by most Italians as "bella Anna" or "cara mia" or "Anna bellissima" - was a big bowl of hot tea and cookies.  I'm not sure I am on the cookies for breakfast plan, but apparently that is now things are done here.  They like their sweets.  Anna rather enjoyed it.  I told Papa to bring some boiled eggs tomorrow.  The girl cannot eat cookies for breakfast every day!

The first official order of business today was Anna's pediatric development assessment.  Two very sweet ladies watched as Anna had all kinds of fun.  She climbed stairs, jumped, played catch, balanced on one leg, walked on her toes and on her heels....she thought it was all fun and games.  Then they did cognitive assessments, asking Anna to name various items (100%), colors (100%), lace beads (100%) and do a puzzle (100%).  They were amazed to know Anna was only adopted six months ago.  I asked about their ABI patients, and they said some do very well, and others don't do well at all.  "It just depends, " they said, "but she has come so far so fast, we think she will do well."

Anna really has come far in  short amount of time. I participated in a similar assessment for Anna when she started school, and she could not do any of those things.   Look how far Anna has come in six months!  According to today's assessment, Anna has gained almost two full years developmentally.  Anna still has delays as a result of institutionalization and as a result of language deprivation, but I am really proud of all the gains she has made. 

Later in the day, Papa and Anna found a little area with a few toys.  Anna was happy to find that there were Legos and a pink vaccum cleaner. 

The play area was right next to a corner where people had left their rosaries on a statue of Mary. I love that people before us have sat in these hallways praying to God for healing, for strength, for mercy.

Later in the day, Anna and I met with Dr. Carner, Dr. Colletti's colleague and our admitting physician.  He said Anna is a very hard case.  He said usually they deal with children who have no auditory nerves or small auditory nerves or absent cochleas.  He said it is very rare to have a child who is missing both her cochleas and her auditory nerves bilaterally.  However, when he interacted with Anna, he said, "Ahh, Dr. Colletti told the whole team that Anna is extremely clever.  I see what he means."  He then said that his hope is that, despite missing two parts of the pathway, the rest of Anna's auditory pathway will be intact and they will be able to successfully implant the device.

After the device is implanted, they will do a test to see if they can eletronically stimulate the auditory portion of the brainstem.  The best possible result would be that all twelve electrodes work without interfering with anything else (facial nerve, etc.).  The worst result would be a zero response.  In between those two is a wide spectrum, and frankly, that's where most kids fall.  I am praying for 12; that's what I want them to come tell me.

As for Bella Anna, today, she learned for the first time why we came to Italy.  When the doctor pulled out the implant kit and showed us a sample of the device, Anna grabbed it and tried to put it on her ear.  The external portion of the device looks like the external portion of a cochlear implant, and since many of Anna's little school friends have implants, she knew what it was and what it was for.  I told her that she would go to sleep, and the doctor would work on her head, and she would get the device.  She pointed at the device, signed "asleep, Anna" and then pointed at the device and at her ear and nodded yes and then cheered.  I am not kidding!  She cheered.  Then she looked at the doctor and pointed at the ear rest and told him she wanted a pink one.  That's our Anna. 

The doctor kept asking me, "How does she understand?"  I have no idea how Anna understands so much of what happens around her.  How does she always seem to know what we're talking about even if we are not signing at the moment?  How did she develop such a cheerful and resiliant personality under difficult circumstances?  How did she develop strong leadership qualities without language and without a forever family?  How has she learned so much so fast?  All I can say is that I believe that with Anna's challenges, the Lord has also given her many gifts and strengths.  Anna shiness, and there's no explaining that except to say it is a gift from God for which we are very grateful.

Buone notte di Italia (good night from Italy),
Amy