Hi All,
Back in March, I posted briefly about a young couple, Beth and Joseph, who Donnalynn had pointed in our direction when they were coming to House for Beth's fourth surgery. Catherine (Jerseygirl2) also met Joseph and his parents when they were staying at Seton last year. They're a remarkable couple, and have been through so much in the last few years.
Beth is NF2, and had lost hearing in both ears a couple of years ago. Last year the docs implanted an ABI (auditory brainstem implant), a surgically implanted electronic device that transmits sound to the brainstem to give a sense of hearing, but it didn't work. When they were here in March for her last translab, the doctors implanted another ABI which was turned on for the first time yesterday.
As you can see from the subject line, this time it worked! We met Beth and Joe today for a celebratory dinner today before they return to Louisiana in the morning. Though it'll take some time for her to adjust and interpret the way things sound, when there was no ambient noise around, she could hear and understand what I was saying. It was pretty amazing, and the docs say her hearing will continue to improve over the next few years.
Here are some pics we took today at The Grove:
Just had to share this wonderful news - congratulations to both Beth and Joseph!