Jac has to be quarantined a week before and a week after his surgery to stay free from flu and any kind of infection. It has been almost a week now after the operation and he is due to see Doctor tomorrow to remove the bandage which has been bothering him. To keep the wound from infection, Doctor's advice was not to have bath for Jac at all after surgery for a week.
We were told all operations carry certain level of risks, if the Cochlea Implant is not done successfully, the facial nerve system can be permanently damaged and affect the facial expression of the patient. We waited anxiously for Jac's operation to be done that day, keeping our finger crossed that things would go well. After a long wait that morning at KK, Doctor Prof Henry Tan said the operation went well, in fact ended early before the targeted time, still the process took around 4 hours in the operation theatre. I thank God for blessing Jac with a smooth and successful surgery. We would also like to express my deepest gratitude to Prof Henry Tan for the successful surgery and the KK ENT Team for providing their best service to Jac all these while. Especially Rachel Reyes (the AVT Therapist), Malen (the audiologist).
Jac had to be on full anaesthetic for the surgery, part of his scalp was shaved in order to have a cut behind his right ear, his skin was being lifted up in order to insert an electronic device to be placed onto his scalp. A canal will be drilled through his skull to insert part of the device (in wire form) directly into his right ear cochlea. His right ear residual hearing is now totally gone and he will have to depend on the external hearing device that to be worn behind his right ear and a wire connection with a magnet on his scalp to capture any sound (especially the high pitch, high frequency sound which he has been missing out since birth in both ears). That external device will be fitted 1 month later after the implant and when his wound is healed, after which Jac will have to attend weekly intensively AVT ( Audio and Visual Therapy) sessions for the next 6 months to see the real result in his hearing and speech.
In order to ease Jac from the intense pain, he was given dose of morphine as well during the operation. His head was bandaged tightly so the wound can be compressed and healed quickly. To prevent him from pulling out the needle inserted on the right hand, his right hand has to be bandaged as well (he may look quite seriously wounded in the pix). Due to the anaestheic, Jac suffered from some side effects after the surgery, he was weak and shivered quite a bit. He vomited badly after he had his first meal,so much so that his favourite Pandan Cake actually flowed out from both his mouth and his nose. Jac behaved well and bravely during his 3 days 2 nights stay at the hospital. He did not cry much (except for the X-ray sessions, yes, he took twice to get the X-ray pix right), in fact he was as cool as a brave young man despite he is only 3 and half year-old...he returned to his usual cheeky and cheerful self on the next day of surgery. Jac was given a Bravery Award Certificate for his surgery by KK. (Pls view attached pix).
The past one week was a tough and trying week for all of us (my hubby, 3rd sister, my maid and myself), we have to be like a live cctv on Jac during day & night (24 hrs -eye power being turn on without much rest) to ensure the bandage remains intact and to monitor that Jac would not pull it off due to itchiness and discomfort even in his sleep in the middle of the night. We did not get sleep much these few nights and our dark eye rings now almost resemble the ones in the cartoon show - The incredibles. My hubby and myself would like to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to my 3rd sis who insisted in staying with me throughout the stay at KK, we did not get to sleep for the 2 nights stay there and she volunteered another night to sleep with Jac at my place before she resumes to her working life the next day. It is a blessing to have such a wonderful sister who always readily sacrifices her precious time for Jac and us despite her busy life. Thank you, San Jie (Lilian)! Thank you Kai mama (Jac's Godmother)!
I would also like to thank my beloved husband for persuading and convincing me on Jac's cochlea implant when Rachel of KK suggested it. It was not an easy and comfortable decision to let Jac goes through the ordeal and overcoming our psychological barriers on the outlook of the implant on him for life. My hubby demonstrates positive thinking despite he was very stressed up on his hectic working life, he even done research on other cochlea implant young patients to come up with a report to convince me on it. I would not be able to do it alone without his persistence on the matter. We finally did a brave and important decision for Jac - The cochlea implant.
Whatever the toll this ordeal may brings, it is all worth it as long as Jac's hearing and speech improves and be able to lead and enjoy a quality life, experience a normal hearing a child/man should have and be a happy positive person . Jac will always be our beloved handsome brave young man!
