Brock update.

We have been relatively trouble free with Brock..medically speaking. His behavior lately is horrible to say the least. I have grown tired of traveling to the medical center for Brock to see certain doctors on the "cleft team". Now that he is older we decided to branch out and see if some local doctors could help him. I took him yesterday to the ENT who saw Chase through tubes and a tonsilectomy. He was great with Brock. He has had several patients with clefts and understands the difference. The big difference right now is that Brock needs his adnoids. His last ENT told me before that his large adnoids are the reason he has no speech issues. This ENT also agreed. I just want him to put tubes in his ears and leave the rest alone. He agreed but he wants to scope his sinus cavity and make sure it is clean and the palate is completely intact. The tubes can't happen soon enough. Brock has significant hearing loss due to thick fluid in his ears. I have been reassured that his hearing will return to normal once they are cleaned out. This was a little troubling for me because 6 months ago we were told that due to the shape of his ear canal he heard actually better than most people...now we are all underwater to him. No wonder he is such a bear lately. He said his ears were hurting today but there is no current infection. The doc explained that he is feeling the pressure change from the rain...my poor little boy! So he goes in the 21st...which cant come soon enough!

Today we found a dentist a short drive from us that used to work on the cleft team. They also do sedation dentistry in the office so that was a bonus. She was awesome with Brock. He went right with her and was a superstar patient. We got excellent news today. Brock has all four of his front teeth. This is a big one as they were not able to see them on Xray 6 months ago. Some are sideways but that can be fixed! He had one small cavity in the front tooth right in the cleft spot. She is trying to restore the tooth with out a filling. It is very important to save these teeth as they help to create bone in the future.

All in all this is great news. He will still need to see the plastic surgeon and speech pathologist in the next six months for a check up. I dont anticipate them to want to correct anything yet. We are just praying that we can stay surgery free until he is 7 and needs a bone graft in his gumline...even then the Lathem device he wore my help prevent that. It is just wait and see.