*3 months ago, Caleb had a surgery where they implanted a “plug” into his scull as part of an experimental technique to restore hear loss. In essence, when the plug healed and the device was attached to it, his scull would act as a sort of surrogate eardrum for sounds coming from the direction of his bad ear. After three months of anticipation, this week he finally got to try the device.**

To Family & Friends (thanks for Scrolling & Deleting)

Son John & Susan were sitting by my side, In Debbie's Sound room at the UCSD EAR HOSPITAL last Friday. She put an inch & a half grey microphone on the Titanium screw that has been in my skull behind the left ear for the past three months. I heard John's voice as he spoke through that ear; not loud but real.

I have heard nearly nothing out of that ear for 87 years!....Because the ear drum was pierced twice, and the Mastoid bone partially cut out when I was only five.

I remember at my Father's funeral, in Enloe Cemetery , near Russellvile, Missouri. An infection developed - swelling my head a third larger than it is supposed to be—said my Mother.

I can still hear her praying: "Don't take my son. O God. I've lost my Husband and little baby already."

Mother said there was an all night prayer meeting for me, in the caring little Church, on Capital Hill where we lived, and my Father was the Superintendent of the Sunday School. He was specialist in Writing and taught in the Oklahoma City Highschool.

My Father died in the Great Plague of 1917-18 when more American lives were destroyed of the Flu, than all our American Wars!

At 91, I am rapidly losing my hearing. (as many of you have noticed.)

BAHA, is the Swedish instrument that makes the mastoid bone a kind of ear, picking up the sounds on the left side of my head and transmitting them to the left ear and brain.

At my Yoga class today I could hear Yvonne's directions ,sitting on the left side of the room.

Rejoice and pray with me that this may be an added blessing in my life & Living relationships...Deafness is such a terrible handicap.

Thankfully. Caleb Elroy Shikles