Sweet Nothing In My Ear

Surgery

A month went by and Alex's appointment to get hearing aids was today.

Monica and Chandler both decided to get the cochlear implant instead of the hearing aids. With the cochlear implant Alex would be in surgery for a couple hours. It works by delivering impulses directly to the auditory nerve, which carries the signals to the brain. Alex won't be able to hear completely but he will be able to hear the phone better, people talking, and doorbells. Not like a hearing aid will; it just gives you some sense in what sound is and what it sounds like.

Chandler told Monica that if they were going to do this they should get the better hearing device for him. That way they can eventually hear him speek and make sounds himself.

They all arrived at the hospital early in the morning. Monica and Chandler were in the room with Alex on the bed. The Doctor went over the procedure one last time.

"First, we will surgeon an implant receiver under his skin behind his ear, through a small incision. The receiver is connected to electrodes, which are surgically inserted into the cochlea. The surgery takes one to two hours to perform and is typically an outpatient procedure." He said

Monica and Chandler nodded

"Any questions?" He asked

Chandler looked at Monica beside him. She shook her had "No..." She looked nervous so Chandler wrapped his arm around her.

"Well then we better get to work." He smiled

Monica and Chandler gave Alex a kiss then left and went to the waiting room for the next couple hours.

Everyone was waiting in the waiting room when they returned.

Chander and Monica sat down next to each other.

Everyone could see how nervous they were about Alex having this surgery so they tried to change the subject.

"Guys, we have a big announcment to make." Ross and Rachel smiled

"I'm pregnant!" Rachel said excited.

Monica smiled. She was going to be an anut. Everyone congradulated the couple.

"We've decided to move up the wedding before I start to show. How does next weekend sound for everyone?" Rachel asked

Phoebe and Joey nodded "Good for us."

Monica and Chandler looked at each other "Yeah sure..."

Ross sensed something was wrong "What?"

Monica looked over at her brother "Nothing. It's just, we don't know how this is going to go." Chandler looked at her. She was always so nervous and worried when it came to Alex's health.

"Everythings going to be fine." Ross said "And if it makes you feel better we can move it further back."

"No." Monica said "Don't do that. It's your day, I don't want to have you guys do that for us. Besides I'm happy for you. Both of you, the sooner the better." She gave them a warm smile.

An hour went by and half the group was gone. Rachel wasn't feeling good so Ross took her home and Joey went to get food.

Monica rested her head on Chandler's shoulder who was now asleep. She was watching this baby boy blowing bubbles with his spit while the mom smiled and tried to clean off the saliva that was dripping. She looked over at this other little boy, about two, running around while his mom tried to stop him. Looking over there was a boy about ten reading a book with his mom. To her right she saw a teenage boy playing a video game on his gameboy. Monica smiled looking over at Chandler. She looked in his hands and saw a rubber band ball that Alex gave him on the way out the door.