Recuperating today from what turned out to be a much less minor surgical exploration than I had thought. I.V. sedation, full O.R. (I was in a holding pattern on the stretcher for an hour till the same doctor finished a brain surgery on the guy next to me). The doctor went in through the ear canal, lifted the tympanic membrane and repaired a probably fistula at the end of the middle ear. Filled the middle ear with “caulk” (my word) then closed the lid. Three weeks to heal completely. Quite a bit of pain and some bleeding yesterday.

It was a 12 hour day (but less than one hour in the actual surgery). Grateful to my dear friend, Jorge Silva, who came to the hospital at 5PM and found me just coming out of surgery and back into my room & too tired and looped to leave. He sat patiently watching me sleep off and on for the next two hours. The doctor said he has now done all there is to do. Gives me a 50% chance of recovering some of the lost hearing (but no estimates on how much). I am adjusting to the differences in hearing from before. The first week i was so disoriented that I could only notice how much hearing I had lost and how distorted everything was even in my good ear.

By now, i notice how much hearing I have (it is clearing up in the ‘good ear’ also) and am able to interact with people much easier although it requires sooooo much more effort than before due to having to read lips and look for other cues versus being able to listen and talk to people absent-mindedly. On the bright side, everyone is definitely going to have more of my attention when speaking than they ever got before.

I plan to fly back to Manila on Monday. It was really amazing that i could get in at the House Ear Clinic (reputed to be the best in the world) with 12 hours notice and get a surgery the next day. The hospital people along the chain throughout the day were amazed that the process all happened so quickly. I flew from Manila, met the doctor, was diagnosed, checked into my room, & got a surgery all in the space of about 48 hours including my flying time from Manila to Tokyo to LA. Wow! Thank you Lord! And thanks to all the rest who prayed for me all along this journey. It will be 4 months till I know how much hearing I have restored.

I am writing you today from the House Ear Clinic, in Los Angeles. I knew I was in the right place when I saw their motto, “That all may hear.” (Sounded like a missions agency). They are well recognized and i have confidence in their care. I am scheduled for a minor surgical exploration today. Trying to discover why my hearing in the right ear (my good ear) was suddenly lost 8 days ago. Looking around the room at those with total deafness and one with scars across his head I am again reminded that I have a minor problem. My life is so blessed. I would love to be able to live out my days without ever making another complaint about anything. I will try to start today.