A Year Later

This time of year has new meaning for me since the birth of Hannah. 

You see today marks one year since Hannah was diagnosed with hearing loss. It was one year ago today that I took my 2 month old to the audiologist, prayed she wouldn't cry too much and fall asleep for the test. 

I never expected the results I got. 

After what seemed like forever and a lot of little lines on a screen, the doctor, sweet Dr. Moats, turned to me, put her hand on my knee and told me Hannah had hearing loss. She just sat there so I could take it in. 

We had started the day thinking everything was fine, no problems, just normal newborn stuff. 

We ended the day with a new reality that would define Hannah for the rest of her life.  

If we wanted Hannah to speak normally and hear she would have to wear some sort of device for the rest of her life. 

You see, since we thought there was nothing wrong with Hannah and this hearing test was just to make sure of that, Keith didn't come with us. 

I called him shortly after she was diagnosed, put him on speakerphone and he asked all the questions, thank the Lord for that, because I was speechless. 

We left that day with hearing aids ordered, a list of doctors to contact and Dr. Moats telling me of a virus, that was very rare, that started with a 'C', that she was going to call Hannah's pediatrician about. 

That was all I could remember from this day a year ago. 

As Thanksgiving approached we learned much more about that 'C' virus that she did indeed have. 

Yes, the Thanksgiving season has forever changed for me. 

It has shown me that everything in life has meaning. Not just every person but every circumstance. Hannah's hearing loss and other issues are meaningful and will be used for God's glory somewhere along the journey in this life or in the life to come. 

"For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but  at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

2 Corinthians 4:17-18