When Jasper was born, I began to learn a lot about genetics.

We researched Goldenhar’s and family and friends feared the worst from the pictures of severe cases online. He had everything tested from spinal bones, to kidneys, to eyes and ears, and his nose, of course. He even had his hips ultrasounded because they were concerned that he could dislocate it too easily. The result of all this was surgery on his closed nostril and now, the hearing aids.

Now that we know how to help him, I am learning a lot about hearing.

Hearing requires four mechanisms working together. These mechanisms are: the outer ear, the middle ear, the inner ear, and the auditory nerve. To this point, we know that the auditory nerve and the inner ear work just fine. The bone conducting hearing aid effectively bypasses the middle and outer ear. His outer ear has obvious issues; his ear canals are narrow little corkscrews and he has skin tags outside. When he is seven they can either surgically implant half of his hearing aid, or straighten the canals. Because we do not know the state of his middle ear, the outcome of straightening his ear canals is unknown. Maybe he will go to Boys Town one day to test the middle ear. Until then, I am glad that he can hear soon.

I have also learned a lot about medical insurance.

Hearing aids are not covered. Thanks to the Lions Club, I may not have to worry about that. His birth apparently cost my insurance company over sixty-two thousand dollars. Amazing. My wife’s stay was twenty-five thousand dollars. I’m sure that Blue Cross/Blue Shield is hoping that nothing else happens with my family. They are very nice, but I am coming to realize that insurance companies are in the business of selling policies, not caring for policyholders. I added my family, so they threw out my payments toward my deductible and made me start over. Our family has an individual deductible instead of a group one. (Thank goodness it is only $250 each).

I have mostly learned that we are truly wondrously made. Psalm 139:13-14

When David remarked that the human body is wondrously made, he had no idea of some of the systems of the body medical science has illuminated to us. He didn’t know how the eyes truly work. He didn’t know about the three little bones in the ear that disturb the fluid in the middle ear to produce vibrations. He didn’t know that there are miles of blood vessels in each person. He had no way of knowing about stem cells and how adaptable they are.

Learning about how my son is fearfully made has made me appreciate so much about life. He is physically quite strong for a two month old. He has crawled a little bit and can hold his head up for quite awhile. He can support his weight with his legs. He can reach and grasp things. He knows when he is watching football…

Okay, the last one is a bit of conjecture on my part. I admit that he may not be ready for the intricate details of the middle linebacker position. He does, however, know that Daddy loves football. That’s good enough for me.

It is also amazing to think about the human brain. How God created it and designed its function will likely occupy mankind for ages to come. Experts think that a two-month old’s vision is mostly black, white and red and limited to a range of five feet. Yet, he can recognize me, his mom, the cat, and the TV. Oh yes, he can recognize the TV. He really does quiet down for a football game or shows with animals. He doesn’t quiet down so much for me, but he does get excited to see his mom. He’s indifferent to the cat, but the cat is indifferent to everything, so no one loses in that transaction.

Anyway, despite the limitation, his brain can recognize many different shapes. Over the next few months, his brain will begin to process sounds and words. He will be able to attach meaning to words. He will also be able to learn the difference between speech and other sounds. For example, he’ll know that the cat’s meowing is not made up of words, but he’ll recognize when my wife and I are talking. He will even babble to practice making the sounds he hears.

Truly amazing stuff. All of this draws me close to the God of Heaven that made each one of us. We are fearfully and wonderful made.