Hospital Day 4 - We finally have details!

Today was a busy day at the hospital.  Dr. Colletti and team arrived with smiles, which were greeted by Anna with the usual morning hug.

After hugs, a nurse came in and said not to feed Anna because she was going for a test.  This was the first we had heard of that, so I'm glad I had not already fed her.  They aren't always prompt about mealtime here, so if we get too far past when I think Anna should eat, I feed her something.   They cam a few minutes later and wheeled Anna to the surgical suite, or "Blocce Operacion Surgecia."
As usual, Anna thought it was a grand adventure.  I had to tell her she could not surf in the rolling crib.

The testing took much longer than I anticipated. They gave Anna a tranquilizer of some kind and they took her back around 9:00 a.m.  I didn't see her again until 11:30.  They did a visual examination of the ear under a microscope and then also a test called an eABR.  I'm not really sure about all the details, but somehow, the eABR tests whether the auditory nerve carries electronic impulses.  I know Anna's results were not good, but they said it confirmed that ABI is Anna's only option for hearing.
Anna's ears were bloody, and they had put the lead in for the IV in her hand.  She was not a happy camper.

The staff asked me not to feed Anna or let her drink anything for another 2 hours so that she would not be nauseated from the after-effects of the anesthesia.  Anna cried for awhile and needed some rocking time.

Anna slept off the rest of her medicine, and we she got up, she was the old Anna.  She wanted lots of sympathy for her hand wound. 

Today, one of the medical staff came to see us because he wanted to video Anna playing independently and interacting with me.  He said we should pretend he was not in the room.  Of course, Anna never meets a stranger, so as she was playing with the food items, she kept offering him a drink or talking to him.  I think he got a kick out of her.

Dr. Carner came to see us later in the day.  After Anna did her usual what-for about not having her implant yet, he told us the news we have been waiting for.  Anna has passed (or failed, as the case may be) all the necessary tests to deem her a suitable candidate for ABI.  They will implant Anna's left side on Monday morning at 7:00 a.m., which will be midnight Sunday night CST (Texas time).  Feel free to set an alarm to remind you to pray for Anna!

Anna will be the second ABI patient in this set - Bruce (17 months old from Los Angeles, our roommate) will go first.  Anna will go second.  Then on Tuesday, Oliver (18 months old from Scotland) will go first, and Diva (17 months old, from New York) will be the last patient.  Pray for all the babies and their families - the Lins, the Bosches, and the Guptas.

Anna will spend at least one day in ICU following her surgery.  What happens from there just depends on how Anna does.

In news from somewhere other than Verona, I will brag on Amelia AiChun, who Skyped me to tell me she got the part she auditioned for in the Spring musical at church.  We will look forward to seeing all our young friends in the musical later this year.  I will ask your prayers for Lucy, who has not been feeling well, and for Grandmama, who is holding down the fort at home with two kids, three cats, and one fish.

At this point, friends, you know everything I know!  Your prayers for protection, health, strength, endurance, healing, and a 12-electrode insertion are appreciated so deeply.

Love,
Amy