Rewind … The Backstory
I had been nervous about the surgery when we were still in the conversational stages. At nine years old, having to discuss surgery and go through it with Ella would not be as easy as it had been when she got her first set of tubes at 18 months old.
We’ve been going to the same ENT since she had her first set
of tubes implanted, but he never had the warm and fuzzy bedside manner I prefer
having in a doctor. I wasn’t too keen on
the idea of having him perform this reparation, despite his brilliance as a
surgeon, because I knew that in addition to a talented physician, Ella also
needed someone who would be sensitive to her feelings. Thankfully, he referred us to one of his
partners.
Many prayers had been lifted to God prior to meeting Dr.
Rampey and discussing the surgery. In my mind, we were only going in for a
consultation and information; I wasn’t sold on the surgery yet. I didn’t want
to put Ella through a procedure that wasn’t absolutely necessary.
I’ve been nervous. Not up all night with worry kind of
nervous, because through this entire process, Ella has said that her ear is the
way it is and she is fine with things. Not only that, but her hearing isn’t
impaired such that she is unable or has major difficulty functioning. I’m
certain her hearing loss impacts her, but having her hearing completely intact
isn’t going to make her like school or make homework any easier (our two
greatest challenges).
When we met Dr. Rampey at that initial visit prior to
surgery, I liked him the minute he walked into our exam room. I could already
discern warmth about him in the way he introduced himself to Ella and then
Brian and I and his mannerisms gave me a good feeling in my gut. He completed his exam of Ella’s ear and said that the graft was basically a necessity if there was any hope of improving her hearing and reducing the chronic ear infections that seem to be normal and routine for my sweet-pea girl. I looked over at Ella and I could read the apprehension and anxiety all over her face.
At some point during the examination, Dr. Rampey had mentioned that his son had recently had to have a tonsillectomy, so I held Ella’s hand and said to her that Dr. Rampey had a little boy and that if his little boy needed to have his eardrum repaired, Dr. Rampey would be recommending the same thing. I reminded her that Mommy, Daddy A and Daddy B, Grandma and Em would be there the whole time.
Then I said to her, “even better than all that, Ella B., is
that God is here, He loves you and He is going to take care of you during this
surgery.” After the words left my mouth, Dr. Rampey asked if we would like him
to pray with us. My eyes immediately filled with tears of awe and joy knowing,
in that very moment, that God had answered my prayers and that He had brought
Ella to Dr. Rampey and I knew He was telling me that He had his hands all over
this surgery. Dr. Rampey put his hand on Ella’s arm. I held her other hand and Dr.
Rampey prayed for Ella, our family and for God’s guiding hands over the surgery.
Sappy, sentimental me
was still crying as we offered our thanks and said our good-byes to the doctor.
While we were in the check-out area, I crouched down in front of Ella so I
could look into her beautiful brown eyes. I explained to her that I was not
crying because I was sad or scared because after this appointment, I was
neither sad nor scared. I told her that I had been nervous and praying about
this appointment and that God answered my prayers in that one amazing instant.
As soon as Dr. Rampey offered to pray with us and put his
hand on my child’s arm, I knew that God had placed us in the best hands. I told
Ella that this was God’s way of assuring me that He was watching over all of us
and that He was going to take care of her during the surgery.
More Prayers Answered
This afternoon Ella had her post-op appointment with Dr.
Rampey.
The graft took and there is no longer a hole in Ella’s ear
drum.
Once Dr. Rampey removed the packing, he could see inside her
ear clearly. He “pumped” air in her ear and the ear drum moved. This is GREAT
because it has to vibrate for hearing. He did a brief test with two pitch forks
and she could hear the tones emanating from the metal wands both in front and
behind her ear.
He believes that the eardrum will continue to heal with
time, so Dr. Rampey scheduled a hearing test and follow-up appointment in four
months. In the meantime, Ella is free and cleared to swim her heart out this
summer!
God brought Dr. Rampey into our lives and the surgery was
executed without a hitch. Ella did well under the anesthesia and made it
through the procedure safe and sound. Her healing and recovery went smoothly.
The end result was a success: her eardrum is repaired.
Thank you seems such an inadequate response to God’s
blessings in our lives, but it is all this human has.
“….for I am the Lord
who heals you.” Exodus 15:26
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