Why do I wait so long to write??? Well, much has happened! Aside from Thanksgiving, Christmas, Evynn's birthday, New Years, and Evynn's birthday party -- little Jillian received her cochlear implant.

I spoke to Andrea yesterday and Jillian’s recovery has been more than wonderful. It has been miraculous…

At 27 months, Jillian was still not walking. After countless tests, the therapists and specialists had no answers. During the surgery, Dr. Orobello wasn’t able to perform the surgery as he normally would due to scar tissue and bones. It was the most frightening part of the surgery and the time when we were praying the hardest. The bones and the scar tissue were removed during the surgery in order to thread the electrodes through the cochlea. The day after the surgery, Jillian walked for the first time and Andrea said, ‘She hasn’t stopped yet.’ Jillian’s therapist believes that the scar tissue and/or bones were causing balance issues that were resolved during the surgery.

Over and over again, I put God into this box. I think, ‘He can do this’ or ‘He can do that’, but my imagination stops there. I’m filled with gratitude that He loves me enough to humble me by showing me His greatness.

Next Thursday, Jillian will hear for the first time in her left ear. And we’ll be privileged to witness her walk. How grateful I am to have a God that continues to bust out of the ridiculously small box I continue to create. I'm so excited to detail the events of Jillian's activation for you. Even if it's difficult, it will be worth it - for so many reasons.

In the dark hours of this morning, I suddenly realized that we don’t have our ‘first candidate’ anymore. We have our ‘first recipient’. Recipient. What a beautiful word.

With so much love!!!
Courtney

(Attached is the link to the ABC broadcast regarding Jillian and her secret Santa. While we will be forever grateful to the family that provided the overwhelming amount of funds needed to make Jillian's surgery possible, your prayers and donations were what got us started and gave us the courage and confidence to continue. You are all such a beautiful part of this.) http://www.abcactionnews.com/content/taking_action_for_you/story/Secret-Santa-brings-gift-of-hearing/-F9V3lp950isAUdZtwuK0g.cspx