Anna LaCroix and her chicks, hearing is believing

Because of a wonderful medical procedure, Anna can not only see her new chicks, she can hear them. Read on...

Anna is the daughter of our neighbors Amy Sage and Bill LaCroix. We do a lot together as families, including some "ranching." I traded Amy a rooster for a hen this spring and the result is recorded in these photos!

Anna was born deaf and has gone through two surgeries for cochlear implants. She is what we call a Bright Light. She takes after her sister, Ruby, and brother, Levi!

A cochlear implant is a surgically-implanted electronic device that helps provide sound to a person with severe sensorineural hearing loss. This is hearing loss usually caused by damage or a defect in the inner ear. Cochlear implants bypass damaged hair cells in the inner ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve to send information to the brain.

They went to Seattle this month for the second surgery. Below is a message from her Mom.

Anna's surgery today went very well...even better than last year!
Dr. Rubenstein used a different electrode array, and got the whole thing inserted. He suspects that 18 of the 22 will be turned on! (On the right side she has 14.)
We are spending the night in the hospital with Anna , and going back to Port Townsend tomorrow.
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers everyone.
We are truly blessed (again)!
Love, Amy

Read a story about Anna published in the Missoulian last year.

To learn more about the procedure visit Cochlear Implants.

If you want to visit Montana, Amy Sage has a vacation rental of her own located on her historic (and still working) ranch, SweetSage Guest House, and she manages other vacation rentals in the valley.