Can you hear me now?

A couple of weeks ago we were approved for a Passy-Muir. A passy-muir is a small device that goes on the end of Payson's trach. This device allows Payson to breath in through his trach but blocks off him breathing out through the trach. Instead the air escape up through the normal avenues (nose/mouth) thus giving the vocal cords the air they need to make noise. Bottom line this will allow us to hear our sweet little boys voice! Woo Hoo! It is one thing to hear him babble here and there, but it is a whole nother thing to hear him on a regular basis!

So, after an anticipated couple of weeks we eager anticipated the arrival of UPS yesterday. When he finally showed up late we had gotten the wrong box, so a quick phone call and a desperate plead not to make me wait one more day our medical supply company came quickly to drop off the correct package. When it arrived it was like the Holy Grail had landed! I think our hearts skipped a beat and our hopes of anticipation exuded from our beings. I am not sure what we were expecting, but I think we planned on Payson talking in full sentences with the vocab of a 12 year old. So, when Payson kept taking a breath through his trach and not being able to emit it from the trach he got frustrated cried and like a champagne cork the passy muir flew across the room. You could hear Todd and I's disappointment like a balloon with a slow leak. It wasn't the eternal sad disappointment, but a disappointment of having to wait another couple of days to hear the sweetest voice!

Today we had another chance to try the Passy muir at Payson's speech therapy. Even though we wished it would allow us to hear Payson we figured it would take some time. Our first try ended with the cork popping and Payson in tears. Yet, when it comes to my boy we try, try and try again. The second try he discovered he had a voice babbled on and on. Within minutes he felt air coming from his lungs out his mouth and as funny as it felt he loved putting his lips together and blowing bubbles. He cracked me up! It was so precious! Within seconds of hearing, really hearing, Payson tears welled up in my eyes! How sweet it was, oh, how sweet it was! 10 months is a long time to not be able to hear your baby! All in all Payson was on his device for 10 minutes, which isn't long, but is excellent for the 2nd try. We tried again tonight and it wasn't as successful, but we will keep trying a little each day until he learns how to handle the inhaled air.