Concentrations lately? Cochlear Implants!!

Silviu and I

Dear Ones,   

Anca and I

          

As usual, things have not been dull and lots have been happening.  I last wrote to you about the trip I took in August to Lugoj, a town 5 hours away, to advocate for two kids, Silviu and Anca, who have severe to profound hearing loss and need cochlear implants.  They have been my concentration since then.  Amazingly enough, both of these kids were born in 2003, the same year that I came here.  Isn’t that amazing??  Did the Lord arrange all these things so that I would be here to help these kids?  I believe so!! 

Yesterday I heard from Silviu’s father that Silviu will be implanted with his cochlear implant NEXT WEEK and that Anca will be the next one!!  These are miracles accomplished by the Lord in record time – LESS THAN two months from the start of research to getting implanted!!  I am truly amazed how the Lord worked everything out for both families. 

What were all the events leading up to this? 

·         I attended an ENT Conference on September 21-25^th in Iasi (an 8 hour train ride) and was able to meet the ENT doctors in Timisoara who perform the cochlear implant surgery.   

·         Brought Anca up to Cluj to have two special tests done here since the equipment in Timisoara needed repair and we did not want to wait any longer.  Her parents had already been trying to get help for her for the last four years!  She had to be sedated for each test so the family spent the night at my place so we could do one test per day.  McDonald’s was her reward on both days – she had never eaten there before.

·         Anca and Silviu’s speech therapist, Lavinia, who has been my right hand in Lugoj in communicating with and teaching Anca’s parents what they needed to know about cochlear implants through DVD’s and materials we found.  She will play a major role in their rehab after implantation.

·         Prayers, prayers, prayers and the Lord’s favor!! 

               

Working on my visa again.  Please be praying that the Lord would show me His favor here as well and the process would move quicker than usual since I confess I started the paperwork a little late.  Oh, well!!

I would appreciate your prayers for these families as well – for His Comfort, for the surgery and the doctors performing it and for swift healing with no complications.   

Attached is a missionary update from my church.  It also tells of some of this story as well.  Plus I have attached some pictures of Silviu and Anca. 

Silviu sticking out his tongue

Enjoying our popsicles

Anca and Dad

Anca and Mom