Have you ever sat back and thought about if you were never able to hear the sound of your children's voice ever again? Or your spouse's? Or your siblings, your parents? I haven't. Have you taken for granted hearing the ring of the telephone, the annoying traffic reporter, or even the ever- hated buzz of your alarm clock? I have.
Until now...
For the past month I have battling nasty ear infections, that I have never had before, and chronic pain, fullness, and the sound of a never-ending "hairdryer-like" sound in my left ear. By the end of the first week, the hearing in my left ear was diminishing. I was scrambling back to the doctor for appointments, hoping to nip this before it got any worse. My glands at the side of my ear along the jaw line were now swollen to the size of half a softball. I was in so much pain. By the end of the second week I had no hearing in my left ear and a few days later started to lose hearing in my right. I was not responding to two rounds of different, very aggressive, antibiotics. Anyone that I talked to I asked to pray for me, that my right ear not get any worse. There's power in prayer. I still have hearing in my right ear.
For the past month I have battling nasty ear infections, that I have never had before, and chronic pain, fullness, and the sound of a never-ending "hairdryer-like" sound in my left ear. By the end of the first week, the hearing in my left ear was diminishing. I was scrambling back to the doctor for appointments, hoping to nip this before it got any worse. My glands at the side of my ear along the jaw line were now swollen to the size of half a softball. I was in so much pain. By the end of the second week I had no hearing in my left ear and a few days later started to lose hearing in my right. I was not responding to two rounds of different, very aggressive, antibiotics. Anyone that I talked to I asked to pray for me, that my right ear not get any worse. There's power in prayer. I still have hearing in my right ear.
I was finally seen at the ENT specialist and an ear infection (or more likely, a virus) in my left ear spread to the inner ear, and has, most likely, affected my hearing permanently. I am trying my shot at a steroid that sometimes can restore some of the hearing, but that could be years, or, not at all.
Yes, this is devastating news...especially since the "hairdryer" in my ear is probably here to stay due to damage. (Can I just tell you how absolutely frustrating that is!!) But, my silver lining I figured out while driving home is I have lost hearing in my left ear, but I still have hearing in my right, Praise God! Had things not gone so well last week I could be completely deaf. Probably not being able to hear my children's laughter ever again...their crying or calling for me at night... their sweet "thank you's", "God bless you's", or "I love you's". Never hearing my husband's voice again.
For that, I am grateful. Grateful for the constant blowing of the hairdryer sound. And grateful for the prayers of my family and friends.
Don't stop praying...never underestimate the power of prayer. I could wake up tomorrow full hearing, like this nightmare never happened.
Linked to: Gratituesday
I will be praying for you! What an inspiration you are. Thank you for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your hearing loss, but so happy that you have been able to find the blessings even through the tough times!
ReplyDeleteShannon! Oh, I hate to hear that. Will pray for complete healing.
ReplyDeleteI thank you all...your prayers mean a lot to me. We've never met, but you'll still pray for me. Very humbling.
ReplyDeletehearing loss is sometimes hard to handle but how special you are to fin great blessings out of it
ReplyDeleteWill definitely pray for you...I am also deaf in one of my ears. I lost it due to an infection when I was a teenager. Just know that your body will adjust and you will forget that you cannot hear in one ear. Also, I learned to read lips :)
ReplyDeleteI'll pray for you. I understand how difficult hearing loss can be. I have a disease called otosclerosis. I'm gradually going deaf in both ears. God gives grace. Enjoy what you can hear to the fullest. Never take the ability to hear each day for granted.
ReplyDelete