Tomorrow we make the first of two important visits this summer for Emma's palate. There are two possible surgeries she might have.
One is a bone graft from her hip to her gum line, called an alveolar bone graft. We meet with the oral surgeon on June 22, and anticipate quickly scheduling that surgery.
The appointment tomorrow is with our ENT surgeon, Dr. Sidman. There is agreement that she needs a surgery that will lengthen and tighten her palate at the end of it {meaning, down near her throat}. This will help her articulate certain sounds more effectively and clearly. What is uncertain is the timing of this surgery.
After Emma's cleft team appointment in May, we were planning to revisit the surgery plan this fall. Emma's speech therapist, whom we simply adore {Jim said, "Can Noelle be Emma's teacher, not only her speech therapist?"}, is strongly advocating for a sooner surgery.
She explained that Emma is being held back by physical limitations on making certain sounds that can only be overcome with the surgeries. And she is amazed with the progress that Emma has made. Amazing, incredible strides in her speech and articulation. It is so fun to hear Noelle describe her progess!
Noelle shared that she sees how incredibly bright Emma is and how sweet and kind she is. Noelle so desires for Emma to start the school year so that her new friends can understand her. Hearing her explain what she desires for Emma was like listening to my own heart speaking out loud. It was so beautiful, as a mother, to hear someone give words how they see your daughter and rejoice in the blessing of such a thoughtful description.
Noelle has Emma's best interests at heart. And Noelle is also very, very good at what she does. She advocated on Emma's behalf with our ENT {they are on the cleft team together and when Dr. Sidman asked who we wanted for our speech therapist, I told him that we would go wherever the best speech therapist was located. He smiled HUGELY and gave me Noelle's name}. Our ENT...he had his office call us to schedule an appointment.
And they got us in a week later!
So tomorrow is the week later. Emma and I go early to speech and then go directly upstairs to consult with Dr. Sidman.
We trust Noelle, and we trust Dr. Sidman completely. Whatever he decides, be it surgery now or wait until the fall, we know it will be a decision based on all the information and Emma's best interests.
In that, we take heart.
We'd ask for your prayers, please. For great wisdom and discernment tomorrow for everyone involved in this decision. For hearts tendered to His voice. And for God's will to be done.
There are always pros and cons to any decision. I won't lay them all out here. We are very aware of the reasons to wait and the reasons to go ahead. And we choose the Lord. We trust Him to help us make the very best decision for His beloved Emma Kate.
Thanks for praying for us. It means so much, and we truly covet your prayers. It makes you part of Emma's story in an even bigger way. And her story is so very beautiful.
Love, love,
EK's family
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