Man, this ESD thing is going to be a quagmire, I can tell already...

Thankfully, the local ESD was very prompt in getting back to me. I made the first call to them on Monday and received two calls back on Tuesday. Here's the problem:

She's almost school age. So, even though at this point she is in the "Early Intervention" age group, by the time they work through their backlog, she won't be any more. Then, once she turns 5, she'll be considered school age and she needs to get a referral from the school in our boundaries. You know, the one we're not going to send her to? Apparently she still qualifies for assessment and then possibly services, but I have a bad feeling that by the time they actually GET to her assessment, school will have already started. If we are going to get her a hearing aid, at this point it's likely we will have to do it through her doctor. The same one that said "go through your local ESD." And heaven only knows if Kaiser/CCN will cover any of it. They aren't exactly known for their flexibility on that front, you know?

The very nice people that I've spoken with at ESD also told me that whether or not she receives a hearing aid from them will be determined likely on a sliding scale based on 'need.' (meaning that people with fewer economic resources are first in line for assistance.) Well, we're very fortunate - we have economic resources. So, the bulk of the cost will likely fall upon us. This after her surgeries, which were MOSTLY covered, but not 100%. Ouch.

I just can't help but wonder how long this will take, and if we are going to have to circumvent the ESD's assessment process so that she can have an aid and be accustomed to wearing it by the time school starts.

So, we have another decent-sized hill to climb.

On the healing front - her scalp thing is mostly healed. We're having a heck of a time keeping the dressing on the one last spot that's not quite healed, but we're working on it. It's actually looking really good for the most part. Still can't tell if hair will grow there.

So, the pictures - Kelley and Ryan started playing with this box that I got from Costco. You know, you can spend $1000 on toys, and there's still nothing quite like a box. The first picture is them playing in it, the second is Kelley "flying" in it, (she called it her 'Box Plane.') And the ladybugs have started showing up on our neighbor's trees, and Kelley just can't stay away from them. I call her The Ladybug Whisperer. :)

Really bummed today.....

Kelley had a hearing test today, and although she has shown improvement, her doc is recommending that she get a hearing aid through the local ESD. He estimates that she is at a 40% loss on the surgical side. (She's fine on the other). Starting K in the fall she's going to need to be able to orient where sound is coming from as best as she can - and a hearing aid is the best bet.

Upon reading through the ESD website, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed and sad at the prospect of having to navigate my way through all of it. We don't see her as different or needing any "special" considerations, and it feels like a kick in the gut to be referred to ESD. I know that they provide a range of services and they are there to help, it's just a painful reminder that we have a unique situation.

The alternative is another surgery where they take her middle ear bones out and replace them with a titamium implement to try to impove conductivity. There's no guarantees that it will do anything for her, though, plus we would have more surgeries.

Ho Hum.