Four years ago today, in the middle of a global pandemic, Coop had the surgery that gave him access to sound.

What is cochlear implant surgery?

First and foremost, it is NOT brain surgery. Just want to get that out of the way. Here’s the short version:

  • A small incision is made behind the ear to expose the mastoid bone, followed by a mastoidectomy to access the middle ear.
  • A tiny hole is drilled in the cochlea, and the electrode array is inserted to stimulate the auditory nerve.
  • The internal receiver is positioned under the skin behind the ear and secured in a cavity in the skull bone, and the incision is closed.

Here’s what parents should know going into surgery.

1. Post-surgery nose bleeds are normal

Even in doing lots of researching and talking to other parents, I did not know this and seeing blood from my child’s nose really freaked me out.

Now I am aware this is fairly common. It’s caused by residual blood from the ear that drains down the Eustachian tube, which connects the ear to the back of the throat.

This only happened for the first day or so post-surgery.

2. Be aware it may take a few days for your child to bounce back.

As we were preparing for surgery, I often heard “Oh, my kiddo was back to himself the next day!”

That wasn’t the case for us. Coop had a tough time flushing all the anesthesia from his system and was lethargic and cranky for a few days post-op.

3. Keep an eye on incision site redness and bumps

As in any instance, infection is always a possibility.

But what I didn’t realize initially is that dissolvable stitches were used in Coop’s incision. However, not all of his dissolved on their own and in turn created redness and swelling with slight discharge. It was an easy fix, as we simply brought him in to have them taken out.

But of course my mind went to all the worst case scenarios in the meantime.

4. Be aware it may take a few days for your child to bounce back.

As we were preparing for surgery, I often heard “Oh, my kiddo was back to himself the next day!” That wasn’t the case for us. Coop had a tough time flushing all the anesthesia from his system and was lethargic and cranky for a few days post-op.

5. Trust your gut.

If you are worried or feel like something is off, call your hospital. Make an appointment. Don’t minimize your feelings. Parents know their children best.

Your medical team is there for all of it, not just the surgery itself.

You got this.

Four years ago, I was scared and unsure what life would be like for Cooper post cochlear implant surgery. It’s a lot to take on as a parent, especially when you haven’t lived the experience.

It’s okay to feel unsure and have doubts. It’s also okay to feel completely confident in your decision. Every family and child is different and at the end of the day, YOU make the decision that makes the most sense for your child.