Hinsdale – Josephine “Jo” Arado had many wishes for the new year.
She had been laid off from her job in the pharmaceutical industry over a year
ago, after 11 years with the same company. Her husband, Rob, is on disability
after suffering a stroke in 2007. In the fall of 2011, severe health problems
added to her worries.
The Lake Villa resident was being treated for an ear
infection by her primary care physician, but not responding to antibiotics. Her
primary care physician referred her to an ear, nose and throat (ENT)
specialist, who ordered a CAT scan. The scan revealed that Arado had a
tumor-like growth – known as cholesteatomas – in both ears. She was referred to
Dr. Richard Wiet, a specialist in neuro-otology and founder of the Center
for Hearing Restoration and Ear Research at Adventist Hinsdale Hospital.
The growths had to be removed, but surgery meant a possible
hearing loss. It was a crucial consideration for Arado, because she had lost
the hearing in her right ear as a child. The cause of the loss isn’t known.
Losing the hearing in her left ear meant a grim prognosis. But Wiet was not
deterred.
“Dr. Wiet told me that he wanted to try to restore the
hearing in my right ear first, before operating on the left one,” Arado said.
“He never made any guarantees, but he always gave me hope.”
Surgery with no further hearing loss became Arado’s fervent
wish for the new year. What she got was more than she dared hope for. The
surgery at Adventist Hinsdale
Hospital was so successful that it restored the hearing loss she had
endured since childhood.
Wiet called Arado’s outcome “remarkable.”
“The surgery exceeded our expectations not only by resulting
in no additional hearing loss for Jo, but also by restoring her hearing,” Wiet
said.
In early November, Wiet removed the growth from Arado’s
right ear and inserted a titanium device, restoring hearing in her right ear to
a near normal level. In late December, he removed the growth from her left ear.
The left side was more complicated, as the growth was wrapped around bone, but
Wiet was able to peel it off. Wiet also grafted a new eardrum and was able to
preserve normal hearing in the left ear. After the surgery, Arado did not
experience any loss of hearing.
“After so many years, I was used to not hearing out of my
right ear. Now I hear in stereo,” Arado said. “I can hear what other people
take for granted. I can hear the rain and the ticking of a clock. This was my
New Year’s wish, and I got it.”
Arado also had praise for the staff at Adventist Hinsdale
Hospital.
“As a Jehovah’s Witness, I have made the personal decision
to refrain from blood, including blood transfusions,” Arado said. “I notified
my nurse, the registrar, the anesthesiologist and Dr. Wiet. Everyone was
supportive and assured me my decision would be upheld. That meant a lot to me.”
Arado still faces the uncertainty of being unemployed. She
hopes to return to a job in the pharmaceutical industry. Now she can continue
her search with her hearing intact.
“I appreciate how Dr. Wiet and the staff at the hospital
worked with me,” Arado said. “In every aspect it’s a happy ending. If I had to
do it over again, I would go to the ends of the earth to have this outcome.”
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Adventist Midwest Health includes Adventist
Bolingbrook Hospital, Adventist
GlenOaks Hospital,
Adventist Hinsdale
Hospital and Adventist La Grange
Memorial Hospital. To
find a physician, visit www.keepingyouwell.com.
Media contact: Lisa
Parro, senior public relations specialist, Adventist Midwest Health, Lisa.parro@ahss.org; 630-856-2354