Lucas needs ear surgery as well

Lucas has been seeing the ENT since he was a newborn. First it was failing the newborn hearing screening test, then repeat ear infections and needing tubes in his ears. Now he has a pearly keratin growth on his eardrum possibly a cholesteatoma. We have gone back to the doctor since finding out about his ear for another check up. We had hoped that it would be getting smaller or would be gone. The fear is that the growth will get larger and affect his hearing eventually breaking the bones of the middle ear as it grows.

The ENT said that we can wait two more months and will know for sure when surgery will be required. For logistical reasons I would prefer to wait until the fall so that we can get through this year's swimming season. The surgery requires removal of the affected part of the ear drum and then patching it with harvested tissue from behind his ear. This means that he could not get that ear wet at all. He would have to wear a custom fit earplug to even get a bath. If there has been growth when we go back for a recheck then the surgery will be sooner than later.

Poor kid! Two surgeries in the same year. He is doing well after his last surgery but wants to wear diapers still. He still uses the potty for all of his business but seems to see the diaper as a "band aide" to make him feel better. I think we met his out of pocket max for the last surgery so I guess it won't cost much.