100% Update: Yellow! What's That You Say?

Dr. Beethoven ... Dad's hearing specialist ... wears yellow sneakers. Beethoven and his resident colleague, Dr. ChocolateFactory, gave Dad a full assessment on Tuesday. Here's what happened:

1. ChocolateFactory first performed a medical history. He examined Dad's ears with a high powered microscope and cleaned them out. He determined there was no fluid in Dad's ears. Accordingly, ChocolateFactory felt that the cause of hearing loss had to do with the head trauma. He then went to get Beethoven.
2. According to Mom, Beethoven makes GeorgeClooney and BradPitt look like dogs! [ ... Mom! Dad is standing right there ... not so loud ... he will hear you ... oh, yea, no he won't! ... ] The docs pulled up Dad's scan of his ears.
3. Dad suffered fractures of the the temporal bone as a result of the severe head trauma. These fractures cause a variety of signs and symptoms which include hearing loss, vertigo, facial paralysis and many other serious issues. Evaluation of facial paralysis from temporal bone fractures should begin with early diagnosis, but Dad had so many other pressing life and death injuries they took precedence over the evaluation of the temporal bone. Of course, they could do nothing about testing his hearing until he was cognitive.
4. Beethoven feels like Dad can recover substantial hearing with surgery. He would lift back the EarDrum and check to see if the "ear" bones are broken. They can be fixed with a titanium plate ( ... we think that is what he said ... ).
5. At the time of surgery, Beethoven will also look at what is going on with the facial nerves that run through the canal and may be able to address those issues to a degree. He talked about the possibility of decompression of the FacialNerve. He also indicated that sometimes the facial nerves regenerate on their own which is God doing his work.
6. Beethoven is looking at surgery for Dad around February and might be able to work in tandem with Dr. NewFace ... the plastic surgeon ... if he thinks surgery is needed on Dad's right eye (gold weight).
7. Dad saw NewFace today ... and it appears that everyone wants to know that Dad's heart and lungs are strong and healthy before any surgery. That decision will be made by Dr. HeartBeat ... the new cardiologist ... who Dad sees on January 8, 2009.

Sounds likes a soap opera, huh? Let's all just agree to enjoy the next few weeks with our families and prepare for some surgeries in January and February. Sound good?

P.S. Dr. Beethoven and Dr. ChocolateFactory made the same comments that every other doctor has made. Dad is remarkable! Generally, anyone with the type of heart injury that dad sustained simply does not survive. Mom and Dad both came out of the office encouraged and, once again, humbled by what God did for Dad ... and how He protected Dad ... and continues to do so. Dad was overwhelmed by God's grace and gave into tears of happiness. He often wonders why God chose to save him. Must have something important for him to do. We are always amazed how God brings the very best doc into Dad's life for every given situation or injury.