Mackenzie's DIAGNOSIS!

Finally, after 17 agonizing weeks of doctor appointments, Mackenzie has a diagnosis.  It is certainly not easy news to digest, but Jacques and I are both relieved that we can now begin down the journey to healing our Mighty Mack.

Mackenzie has a left ear cholesteatoma.  This occurs as a complication from unsuccessfully treated, or in Mackenzie's case, untreated severe chronic ear infections.  The cholesteatoma in Mackenzie's ear is very infected and filled with old skin cells and other waste material.  Mighty Mack's cyst is massively large, and has already broken down most of her middle ear bones and other structures of the ear, affecting hearing, balance, and possibly function of the facial muscles.

The ENT who has been treating Mackenzie has only done this surgery a few times, and the youngest patient was 7 years old, and not nearly as badly infected as Mackenzie.  Within the next few days we are being referred to Children's Hospital in DC, which just so happens to be where Lily had her open heart surgery a few weeks ago.  As my mom put it, I will definitely "feel at home".

We are asking all of our prayer warriors to storm the gates of heaven for the doctors to have clarity on how to proceed with our little miracle girl who should clearly not be alive today.  The cholesteatoma nearly fills Mackenzie's entire left middle ear and extends through the attic into the mastoid air cells.  The cyst has caused a diffuse loss of bone as well as sclerosis of the inner and outer tables of her skull.  At this point the doctors will decide whether the surgery will be completed by an ENT or a neurosurgeon (or both).

On top of the left ear cholesteatoma, Mackenzie has patchy soft tissue within her right middle ear as well.  So, where do we go from here?  Surgery!

The primary purpose of surgery is to remove the cholesteatoma to eliminate the infection and create a dry ear. A second surgery is sometimes necessary both to ensure that the cholesteatoma is gone as well as to attempt reconstruction of the damaged middle ear bones in an effort to improve hearing.  In cases of severe ear destruction, reconstruction may not be possible.  Reconstruction of the middle ear is not always possible in one operation; therefore, another operation may be performed six to 12 months later. This operation will attempt to restore hearing and, at the same time, allow the surgeon to inspect the middle ear space and mastoid for residual cholesteatoma.

In rare cases of serious infection like Mackenzie's, prolonged hospitalization for antibiotic treatment may be necessary.  Mighty Mack will also need surgeries at some point to repair the holes she has in each eardrum.  From what we gather, it sounds like Mackenzie will be scheduled for multiple surgeries over the next few months to a year.

Go ahead and ask me 

if we would have walked down this adoption journey 

knowing how grueling and arduous it would be 

both emotionally and physically...

ABSOLUTELY!!!

God has never felt closer as he does now.

How, you might wonder?

This is explained in 

Psalm 34:18.

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted 

and saves the crushed in spirit."