Thank you to those praying.  And I hope my American friends are enjoying Independence Day!

Dad has had his operation and is home.  As I thought, the research people were quite excited at the prospect of getting their hands on an implant that had been in use for several years and had now failed.  The technology is still new enough for them to be learning a great deal from things like this!  I'm not sure what they will be able to learn though as the surgeon had to yank some of it out, it being so embedded in scar tissue (his words).  Maybe that was what the problem was - too much scar tissue?  The surgeon said that the Professor who did Dad's surgery originally had done 'something different' and 'it threw me!'  Dad was delighted with the honesty of that remark.  Ah, and there's a surgeon who has not been able to let his handwriting deteriorate as it is the only way he can communicate with his many deaf patients!

They took an x-ray to check the implant is in the right place and have sent him home to recover and heal.  His wound this time is really small - maybe 3 or 4 inches.  Last time it was massive - cutting maybe 12 inches (or more and 22 stitches in his ear) and then peeling the whole section back onto his cheek to access the inner ear.  Now, they almost do 'keyhole surgery' through a small incision about where your glasses sit.

It will be anything up to 6 weeks before they turn it on, depending on how it heals.  Dad is a bit grotty after the aneasthetic, but otherwise is good.  He's talking well, which fools you into thinking he can hear. 

Deafness.  It's not something I'd like to experience. 

Appreciate your continued prayers - thanks!