"Waiting, waiting. Then another nurse came, and
it was time to go.
it was time to go.
He wheeled my bed down the center of the hall like
a plane on a runway. Mom held one hand. Dad held
the other. We taxied down more halls and turned
many corners until we came to a halt in front of
two wide doors."
a plane on a runway. Mom held one hand. Dad held
the other. We taxied down more halls and turned
many corners until we came to a halt in front of
two wide doors."
Bryn was able to hear everything when she was 4; at 6, she suffered a number of ear infections that left her deaf in her right ear. A hearing aid helped; but it didn't solve all of her problems with hearing her mom's lullabies or wearing a helmet for skating. Another option was explained to Bryn by her parents. She could have an operation to implant a cochlear ear. It wouldn't be perfect, but it would help her hear with her right ear again.
Nancy Hundal offers this lead up to Bryn's decision to have the cochlear implant. From then on, with gentle yet precise text, she explains for her readers the experiences that Bryn undergoes from talking with doctor, to the trip to the hospital and the preparation needed to be ready for surgery. Once in the OR, readers learn the procedures from arrival to recovery. After a long rest, Bryn is released to go home with her parents. One month later, her implant is turned on and Bryn can hear sounds in her right ear once more.
This realistic explanation, accompanied by softly colored illustrations, has a calm and reassuring tone to explain hospital routines and provide relevant information for any family facing surgery for a child. First person narration allows for Bryn's thinking about the procedure, and reflects her feelings and questions. While it is a story about hearing loss, children experiencing other surgical procedures will find comfort in the information shared.
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