Our Inspired Journey

Here's a quick update on Cole's journey to hearing...

Cole had a CAT scan of his cochlea and bone structure of his head on November 6th. From the CAT scan, Dr. Novak could see that in one of his ears, the bones in the inner ear that are connected to his cochlea were larger than they should be, resulting in the hearing loss of that ear. When these bones are larger than they should be, they let too much fluid into the cochlea and cause profound hearing loss. The other ear looked fine from the CAT scan but we know through more testing that both ears still have profound loss meaning he can only hear sounds in the 100-105 decibel range (jet airplane).

Through this process it has been fascinating for us to learn more about how intricately God has designed and created our bodies. Ears, for example, are created and formed in a baby's first trimester of growth inside it's mother's womb. Incredible! So in the forming of Cole's ears during the winter of 2007 while he was still in my womb, God made him differently, for His glory.

I was praying this morning for Ryder, Cole and Cora to seek and pursue God's purpose for their lives. We can read in His Word about His plan for all of us in Micah 6:8. I like both versions I found.

The first is from the New International Version and it says...
"He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

The second is from the Message which is Eugene Peterson's paraphrase of the Bible. It reads...
"But He's already made it plain how to live, what to do,
what God is looking for in men and women.
It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don't take yourself too seriously—take God seriously."

Then I picked up Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest and read today's entry on Abraham's obedience to God... I had to include it for you since it meant so much to me, summing up our response to God in the past few months.

By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done
this thing . . . I will bless you . . . —Genesis 22:16-17
Abraham, at this point, has reached where he is in
touch with the very nature of God. He now understands the reality of God.

My goal is God Himself . . . At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.

"At any cost . . . by any road" means submitting to God’s way of bringing us to the goal. There is no possibility of questioning God when He speaks, if He speaks to His own nature in me. Prompt obedience is the only result. When Jesus says, "Come," I simply come; when He says, "Let go," I let go; when He says, "Trust God in this matter," I trust. This work of obedience is the evidence that the nature of God is in me.

God’s revelation of Himself to me is influenced by my character, not by God’s character. ’Tis because I am ordinary, Thy ways so often look ordinary to me. It is through the discipline of
obedience that I get to the place where Abraham was and I see who God is. God will never be real to me until I come face to face with Him in Jesus Christ. Then I will know and can boldly proclaim, "In all the world, my God, there is none but Thee, there is none but Thee."

The promises of God are of no value to us until, through obedience, we come to understand the nature of God. We may read some things in the Bible every day for a year and they may mean nothing to us. Then, because we have been obedient to God in some small detail,
we suddenly see what God means and His nature is instantly opened up to us. "All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen . . ." (2 Corinthians 1:20). Our "Yes" must be born of obedience; when by obedience we ratify a promise of God by saying, "Amen," or, "So be it." That promise becomes ours.

Through all the talk of cochlear implants and the severity of the process it entails for him to receive them, I have experienced moments of nervousness. When the implant is surgically placed in his cochlea and skull, removing it for any reason (technical failure or illness) would cause irreversible damage of his cochlea. Any residual hearing he has at all that helps the implant to give him sound could be lost. There is risk involved though very uncommon. This blessing comes again with a measure of faith and obedience, believing that the Lord has lead us up to this point so specifically and whatever happens will again be for His glory through the life of my child.

Cole is scheduled for surgery (implantation of the internal component) on December 11th,
early in the morning. It is a one day surgery and he should be able to go home the same day and be up and playing the next. His "hook up" date, when he will actually receive the external
microphone and processor to allow him to hear, will be January 2nd after his head has healed from surgery. We're so excited for that day! Thank you for your prayers along the way. They are felt and comforting through this journey we're all on! We'll be sure to continue updating you as we find out more and more...