ENT Recheck.

Colin had a 6-month routine recheck with ENT today.

Finding #1: The tube in his right (unaffected) ear has come out. In its place is a hole in the eardrum. Causing the doctor to sarcastically term him "one of the lucky ones." Don't know why, but that comment is really sitting with me this evening. So, we have to be extra cautious to be sure no water enters the ear. We'll take time to see if the hole begins to repair itself. If not, he'll have to have it patched. Not sure what else this entails or details of danger...still have to look into all of that and talk to some folks. (Alicia, any input?)

Finding #2: His affected ear is settling back closer to his head and causing concern for possible infection, similar to the fall before Chloe was born, which landed us a few weeks in the hospital on IV antibiotics to ensure he didn't lose his rib graft and skin grafts. I had my suspicions about this heading into the appointment. It has become increasingly difficult to clean back there and I had noticed the skin becoming much softer. Soooo...as of right now, we tentatively have another surgery scheduled for May 1 to again take skin from his leg and have it grafted behind the ear to allow more room for air to get back there so that the skin is able to breath, thus lowering the risks for infection.

But, in the meantime, we've decided it's time for a second opinion as well. So, I'll be making some calls to have another doctor from a different hospital, maybe even state, take a look at the work that has been done and help us decide next steps. And, we'll be bathing Colin in hydrogen peroxide from now on to avoid infection. Just kidding...just a little on the ear twice a day. Honestly.

I hate the decisions. They never get easier and they never go away. They make my heart and mind ache. And, once again, so much for a routine appointment. I really should quit prenaming them as such, huh?