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CI Moments
Cochlear implant recipients sometimes use the term "CI Moments" to describe those wonderful, unexpected moments that mark a breakthrough or a wonderful surprise. These moments sometimes occur months, even years, after the device is activated. I've had many such moments, and would like to share a few:
While in the Outer Banks, we were driving in a car with Shelly's brother Scott and his wife Jane. Shelly and I were in the rear seat, and Scott and Jane were in front. Jane made a comment, I responded, and the other three said "You heard THAT?"
In WalMart, I decided to use the self-service check-out register. Suddenly, I realized that the checkout computer was talking to me, and I could understand. I've used it many times before, but never realized that it was talking to me. (In case you are wondering, I didn't talk back).
On the first morning of the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure, I kept hearing a chirping noise as we rode along. I asked my friend Corky "Is that birds that I'm hearing?" With a broad smile, he said "Yep, those are birds!". Corky then spent much of the day telling our mutual friends "Dan's hearing birds now!"
For a change of pace in my listening practice, I decided to try listening to a pharmacy continuing education program that was broadcast over the internet. To my delight, I was able to understand it clearly, and smiled through the entire program.
Five weeks of hearing
(July, 2005) Early in this story, I explained the question mark in the title of the journal. When I started this journey, I didn't know if the implant would be a success, and I was nervous about potential side effects. Now, five weeks later, I'm happy with the results, and I've decided that it's time to remove the question mark from these last few pages. I'm happy with my decision to get the implant, and I already consider it a success. I have not experienced any significant side effects, and the sound quality has been much better than I expected.
I will always have a warm spot in my heart for those wonderful friends, family members, and coworkers who were so patient about communicating with me when I could not hear them well. I feel privileged to have seen this side of people, and consider them my truest friends.
In early May, as my surgery date approached, I had the feeling that I was standing at the edge of a deep ravine. In order to reach the world of sound, I needed to climb through the ravine and up the other side. Now I feel as if I've made my way up the hardest part of that hill. I'm not at the top yet, but the top is in sight, and many have helped with the climb.
During the past few months, I've been honored to live through a miracle. I'm amazed at the technology that makes this possible. I'm deeply grateful for the support and the prayers that so many have given me. I'm impressed with the skill of Dr Welling, Debby Laprete, and their colleagues. Finally, I owe a sincere "thank you" to Deb Rapert and the rest of the administrative team of my employer, Marion General Hospital, for their decision to provide insurance coverage for my implant.
My journey into the world of sound is not yet complete, and I'm sure that I'll continue to have new CI moments over the next months. Hopefully, my understanding of sounds will also continue to improve. I can't yet hear clearly on the telephone, for example, and I'm hoping that will improve with time.
See how I'm doing, Four years later
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Journey out of the muffled kingdom Page 11 |
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Table of Contents Page 1: Why an implant? Page 2: The Journey Begins Page 3: Surgery Page 4: Awaiting Activation Page 5: Sound! (6/8/05) Page 6: Into the world (6/8/05) Page 7: Sound, Day 2 (6/9/05) Page 8: The Sound Booth! (6/9/05) Page 9: What's that sound? (6/17/05) Page 10: Five weeks later (7/14/05) Page 11: Final thoughts (7/14/05) Page 12: Four years later (Sept, 2009) |