Waiting Room tribe

Yesterday was Little Guy's regular hearing test (which has now been moved to an annual event!!!).  And once again, I reflected on what a special place the waiting room of our pediatric hearing clinic is.

(Turns out that I wrote about it 6 years ago here.)

The friendly face at the receptionist's desk has been the same since our first visit 8 1/2 years ago.  I overheard her leaving a message with a family in another city about a referral for their 4 month old baby, following up on his or her newborn hearing screen.  She very kindly explained that it was crucial to schedule the baby's 3 hour hearing test soon while he or she still sleeps for long periods.  

LG's first audiologist (who diagnosed him) came to the door to call her next patient, and she looked so happy to see us.  Such gentle love shone through her eyes as she spoke with LG. 

Her patient was a 7 month old boy, whose mom & grandma had driven from a town an hour and 20 minutes away.  I overheard that part, so didn't comment on it, but my whole being wanted to say, "The drive is worth it!  If you need any follow-up appointments, every mile is worth it."  They obviously are madly in love with the little guy and were interacting with him, talking, playing games, etc., and also hoping against hope that he heard them.  

And then LG's audiologist came to the door to get him.  He had 10 miniature action figures and accessories spread out on the waiting room couch, and was very engaged in play.  It's such a comfortable place, and he's very much at home there.  Of course, he walked through that lobby multiple times a day during the 2.75 years he attended school upstairs, and I remember the day when he was a toddler and we did a noisy nebulizer treatment in that lobby.

The school secretary from upstairs popped in to talk with the receptionist, and we had a lengthy conversation about our former carpool friends and about Little Miss.  Walking out to our van, we ran into one of LG's former speech therapists and had another lengthy conversation. 

I miss that place! And am so thankful for the vision of one ENT, and that God showed favor on his vision to make it a reality out here in the middle of the cornfields!