Hearing Test......

Ian was supposed to be admitted to the hospital last Wednesday the 13th to begin round three of chemo, however, things were delayed because the doctors wanted a reliable hearing test completed. One of the chemo drugs (cysplatin) that is part of Ian's protocol can cause and most often does cause hearing loss... Since Ian has had two rounds that included this particular chemo drug, they needed to see where Ian's hearing is and weigh the risks to benefits.
Thursday morning, the 14th, I took Ian for a behavioral hearing test....yeah that didn't go over too well... two year olds don't care about the games you want them to play, or what sounds you're making and half the time I think Ian was just ignoring them. Anyhow, we had to go back to the hearing center later that afternoon, for another hearing test in which Ian was sedated and electrodes attached to his forehead and just behind his ears to measure electrical impulses in his brain in respect to sound. Anyway, it took over an hour and a half to sedate Ian. They gave him the first dose of sleepy medicine and he turned into a funny drunk or at least what I would imagine a two year would be like if they were drunk. He was singing songs, telling jokes and just plain out talking funny! Both the respiratory therapist and the audiologist said they had never seen a two year who talked as much as Ian. Forty five minutes into the sedation, Ian was given a second dose of the sleepy medicine with the hope that he would finally go to sleep. No such luck, he kept talking, singing and laughing. Finally I told Ian, "It's nap time, go to sleep." Would you believe it...??? He actually fell asleep. They completed the test and I took Ian back to the hospital to be admitted. The doctor came in and informed us that Ian has mild to moderate hearing loss in his right ear and so far no hearing loss in his left. At any rate he will be receiving another chemo drug during his consolidation portion of his treatment that also affects the hearing and so most likely Ian will need hearing aids once he starts school. In the meantime, he should do just fine with regard to speech and language. The doctors omitted cysplatin from Ian's regimine. I feel like it was just Heavenly Father's way of saying that Ian doesn't need that chemo drug anymore, it's done what it needed to....