Jack's Sisters!

Hello All,
Well as most all of you know we have had lots going on in the Nelson household...never a dull moment! I haven't had much time to catch up with everyone in the past five weeks but am ever so grateful for all of the support and prayers that you have sent our way.

Here is a quick update of all that is going on:

As most all of you know Kate was born with aural atresia and microtia of the left ear which basically means she did not have a developed left ear. There is a small 'ruffle' of skin where the ear would be, there is no true opening to the inner ear so she has no hearing in that ear. We got a CT scan when she was two weeks old and basically found out that she is too small to really get a good look inside to see if the inner ear is developed. We are looking at plastic surgery in the future to reconstruct her ear, but that is at least 5 years away. If there was any reconstruction considered of the canal that would occur after the plastic surgery. Until then we are getting fitted for a bone conducting hearing aid to help stimulate that side and help her brain make those vital connections between sound and localization. Kate's right ear passed with perfect hearing! The doctors do not think this will effect her language development and with some therapy will develop just like all other children with normal hearing.

Mallory failed her hearing screening tests in the NICU so follow-up was recommended. Our first experience with follow-up left us devestated as the ENT told us that Mallory was most likely completely deaf. (Brings tears to my eyes just writing that). Thankfully we sought out another follow-up with Children's Mercy where we got a two hour ABR (hearing exam) that told us she has mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss bilaterally. She can hear low tones and as pitch increases she has a progressive hearing loss. We are having ANOTHER ABR in five weeks to corroborate those findings and at that time will fit her for right and left over the ear hearing aids. With the amplification of the aids Mallory should be able to hear perfectly...we are not sure if her hearing will progress to more significant hearing loss but we were happy with the information we received and are taking it one step at a time.

All in all we have two beautiful baby girls that are a pure joy to love and care for, looking so forward to learning their individual personalities! They are super strong and healthy in every other way.

I will keep you all updated as I learn more about our futures and where we are headed. Again thank you all for your thoughts, I love you all!

Erin

P.S. Mallory is on the left and Kate is on the right