Part of me doesn't want to ever talk about this experience again, and part of me never wants to quit. On December 23, 2002, Rhyan underwent surgery at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg to receive her cochlear implant. The surgery itself was beyond amazing. It was the most blatant miracle we've ever witnessed. The surgeon said the procedure usually takes between 3 and 6 hours. Rhyan was done in a little over an hour. He said it was picture perfect. We found out the next day just how perfect it really was when the surgical assistants came in to talk to us. They told us that they had never seen a procedure go so well. There are wires connected to an electrode that are inserted into the cochlea, and these wires contain the volumes and frequencies that were mapped about a month later. If the entire wire doesn't go completely into the cochlea, then the volumes and frequencies that aren't inside the cochlea will never be heard by the individual. Rhyan's went completely inside. She has full range of sound.

After the surgery was a bit more difficult than we thought it would be. I stayed with her all night and she was in a lot of pain. There's something about seeing your child in pain that just sears your soul. I don't know how else to describe it. That memory will stay with me. I guess the good part about it is that we appreciate her healthy times that much more. My heart goes out to parents whose children are going through long illnesses. I just can't imagine.

We had so many visitors, mostly family. However, Santa Claus, Macho Man Randy Savage, and Raymond the Devil Rays mascot all made their appearance. I had actually kind of lost it right before Raymond came in, but he made me smile and it really turned my attitude around. And while he denies it, Matt nearly did a back flip when the Macho Man came in. :)

A friend of ours said that while it is a phenomenal gift that our baby can hear, the most important thing about this event is to give God the glory. And He gets it. There wasn't a moment where we couldn't see His hand or feel His peace. This isn't about a surgery where a baby gets to hear. This is about the Lord changing lives because He loves us so much.

Christmas Eve we were home and we watched her sleep peacefully in her own bed. It was a perfect night to praise His name.

http://www.allkids.org/