"My-CI-Is-Amazing"

What it is like between two worlds with CI'S

2011-10-20T12:04:00.002-05:00

What is like between two worlds. When you're between two worlds. The hearing world and the deaf world. The hearing world is sometimes gets frustrating, it gets mad with one who wears a hearing aid or just has trouble hearing but.... it is sometimes asked. "You have a hearing aid? Why don't you turn it up? And then they shout and say,"well, I have to shout for you to hear me" but yet we tried to tell them to look at me! Don't turn your head, don't look down..... just look straight at me so I can read your lips.

And there's times we just want to break down and cry, and keeps saying to ourselves,"why can't people understand?"It's not that we don't want to hear them, we do. It would be nice if people from the hearing world could just take a moment and put themselves in our shoes and think about how we feel. Like I said on hearing journey, people take their hearing are granted and there's times I've wished that they could see that before hearing loss happens to them. Some of us have lost our hearing from allergic reactions, sudden deafness, slow losing their hearing, some were born that way, some have lost their hearing from her car wreck. And so on.

Like the teacher that I did a speech for was telling me. When she was younger in her teen years, the doctors had told her she needed to protect her hearing in the years to come she will lose it and she said I told the doctors not need but now she wished she had h protected er ears.

During that time that I was wearing a hearing aid, I was trying to fit in to the world. The best I can to learn sign language. I was trying to understand them if they were trying to understand me and tell them that I was hard of hearing and that I did know very little sign to help me. But as they knew I'll wore a hearing aid. They said you are a hearing person, and I told them yes. Let on hard of hearing and that I had two use sign language, and lip reading to understand what people are saying. And they said okay.

When I got my first CI. I was really nervous on way is going to be like. I remember when I first met Jennifer Thorpe. She was so patient and understanding, and she knew exactly how I felt. I was so excited about seeing her that I was talking really fast. I realized that I was talking to fast. She was telling me about the implants and how they work. She even put a fork on her head where the CI magnet is, so it stuck for he boys to see. And this was in a restaurant. She had us all laughing and made us feel wanted.

She wasn't there the day I had surgery and she and her daughter Katie came into the recovery room and gave the boy's cookies. She let me know that everything must be okay, But it's going to take time and a lot of hard work. When I first got my CI turned on it was music to my ears. I was so excited that day because I could hear her for the first time after 48 years. My son was with me that day. The audiologist and Jeremy and I were laughing so hard that tears were flowing down our faces. When I got my second CI . My husband was with me that day and he had tears rolling down his face when I heard his words and understood every word.

A cochlear implant is a blessing in that they make lives better through which we can have a normal happy life. To me it's a gift and advanced bionics has given me and thousands of others the ability to have happiness in hearing. I'm able to enjoy my music, to be on the phone , and to be able to understand people in a conversation over the phone and not even knowing that I am hard of hearing. Just to be able to feel like I'm welcomed into the hearing world, but yet between two worlds. The reason why is that a bad is the night, I am in the deaf world in total silence, very lonely world, very quiet and scary, there are times I'm worried if there will be a big fire or someone breaks in, in many other things! Every morning I tell my husband and my children thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to hear them again by that many had the surgeries. I do not know what I would do without my CI'S. I am so grateful to have online friends like Kim, Eric, Sam, Evelyn, Sylvia, and Jennifer and so many others that I have met when I first came to hearing journey. I hope this can help others that are going through the hardships that we all have with our hearing on chat and on the forum

Jeremy playing in the band for the first time

2011-10-20T11:56:00.003-05:00

On a beautiful September day, Springfield middle school is having their homecoming game it was Jeremy's first time playing with the band at that game and it was my first time going to the game with both cochlear implants. It was exciting to be able to hear them play at the game.

Jeremy did a awesome job and he looks so good up there with the band. It was amazing to be able to hear the band play. I was especially enjoyed it when they were playing "wipeout". The young gentleman that was playing the full set of drums is in the eighth grade and he will be leaving and it will be going to high school next year. Jeremy is learning how to play"wipeout"on his drums to where he could take his place and play" wipeout" at the games. James and I were there to support Jeremy at the game and it was his first time. And I am proud of my son for doing a fantastic job.

How thing have been going!

2011-10-20T09:22:00.011-05:00

Jettchen Now
Jettchen as a puppy
Laura and me with my family in Maryville, Tennessee ref="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iUzLkri-hZk/TqA21NxmlrI/AAAAAAAAAEs/jT-0zjVqfQ4/s1600/Dollywood%252Cpigeon%2BForge%2Band%2Bmaryville%2B007.jpg"> Jean, Rusty and me at the old Mill restaurant
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James,Jeremy and my nephew
in Dollywood park

my niece Grace
this is my Brother and Sister at Dollywood park

It's been a year since I've been on here and I know it is very long time! I have not had time to get on here. I had been doing great, hearing new things all the time. I had been very busy doing listening exercises to improve my hearing since the last time I was on here. I had been having mapping every three months trying to get a balance for both sides and I've been working on trying to find that balance.my audioloist said I was doing great on my hearing and that I was doing better than she anticipated on the left ear. I also have been very busy speaking at the Springfield middle school in 2010 and doing reports about cochlear implants at the school.

I've also been busy with my boys and my grandchildren. I've been enjoying the sounds of the laughter and excitement from grandchildren and our boys when they are having a great time. In July 2010, and I got to see my brother and my sister and my niece and nephew in Dollywood in pigeon Forge Tennessee. This was their first time sent me with my cochlear implants and they were amazed on how well I was hearing.

I got on the roller coasters and I had to push myself up to keep me from hitting my head on the bars that I come to realized that he was too risky to get on the roller coasters but I had fun watching my niece and nephew with my brother and the rest of them get on all the roller coasters. Also went to the old Mill restaurant in pigeon Forge and got to meet with Jean Rymer and Rusty in person and had a wonderful time at lunch. Also got to meet Laura in Maryville, Tennessee for lunch on the way home.

In September 2010 John bought a meeting German Shepherd puppy and she was six weeks old I named her Jettchen. I have been very busy taking her to training at Nashville dog training center for opiates classes and to socialize in the public. She's doing wonderful in her training. Also was worried about not able to understand the teacher in the class as I was working with Jettchen, because we were moving all the time in the ring. I had James or Jeremy go with me to be sure that I understand what they were saying. But I did not have a problem and that made me feel good.

In November 2010 on Thanksgiving I had a wonderful time, able to communicate with my family and to understand everything that they were saying to me. It's wonderful to know that you can hear and understand everything that someone is saying to you. But I do know that we have our good days and our bad on the hearing. And we have to try to let people understand that what they have to put themselves in our shoes and when we don't understand them.

December 2010 was very cold and wintry month. We be in quite a bit and did not do very much. We had a lot of snow days, or we would have snow fights, and we would go sledding. A Christmas time I had made Christmas dinner and we had Lebanese food and spent time with family to spread Christmas cheer and laughter. But this was the first time with all of cochlear implants. It was amazing to be able to hear the laughter and the joy of Christmas music and the children being excited or what they got for Christmas.

In January 2011 it was John's birthday on the 14th and mine was the 16th John decided we would go out to eat for our birthdays. At the restaurant it was amazing that I can able to hear and understand what was being said in a noisy and loud restaurant. After that we didn't get out much in January because it was still snowing and the boys for school for almost 4 weeks due to snow.

In March 2011 I went to diner for a new mapping program because I was having a hard time understanding. One program on my left side was too loud in it was overpowering the right. We figured out that I had Hi Res fidelity 120 paired in my left ear and then we had Hi Res fidelity 120 sequentrial in the right. So we played around with the mappings and come to tribe filed with Hi Res fidelity 123 sequentrial and found that I had better balance. One side was not overpowering the other. I did the replacement has in the listening room and I had gotten a 100% involve cochlear implants. I had been working a lot on listening.

In May 2011 Jeremy got a drum set and start taking drum lessons and James got a new guitar and also was taking lessons. Since then, I have been getting really busy on taking them to lessons. During the summer I have been working in the yard and going on the Greenway and listening to beautiful sounds of birds and crickets and water flowing while I was taking Jettchen and Digger walks.

August 2011 is the beginning of the school year and I have been trying to get it ready to get the kids started in school. James in the eighth grade and Jeremy is in the seventh and in the band this year. It's hard believe. that my children are growing up so fast and they are teenagers.

How things went on the second bilateral mapping

2010-07-07T11:43:00.004-05:00

Sorry I haven't got back in posting, but things have been a little busy! While I looked over the notes I took with me that day, my audiologist asked how I liked three programson the left ear.I told her that I did the replacement test and found out that program 2 on the left ear give me a score of 88% alone, and in the right ear I was giving score of 91% alone and with both ears. It was only given me an 82%, and she said that the higher frequencies on my left ear need to be turned to more and she turned them up.... and WOW.... what a big difference. She tell me that the programs on my left ear was scoring at 88% was Hi Res P. fidelity 120 and she said all three programs to the Hi Res P. fidelity 120. The first program is for noisy places, such as a room with the TV going with people talking in the background or restaurants. Program two was for everyday listening and program three is for everyday listening just a little bit louder.

Then we did the right here and said I was doing really well on that here and that he will probably be the leading ear. She asked me what programs I would like on that one ear, and told her that I like program three. I told her that I figured out that I her bare with program two on the left ear and program trading on the right here she told me she did not tell me what programs were on the right ear and for me to try them out for one month. She said so you like the right here on to the Hi Res S fidelity 120 and said that she was going to program the right ear to the Hi Res S fidelity 120. So the programs for the right ear is program one is for noisy places program two is for everyday listening in the program three is for telephone for home and cell.

The boys were with me that day I had to take them to the doctor. I could understand their doctor and he was really happy that I could here and I could understand him and he didn't have to repeat each thing that he was saying. He also told me that there was c a young couple with their little baby is seven months old and is probably going for the cochlear implants I told him about hearing journey.com and that there were lots of parents of children with cochlear implants. And that they could get a lot of information and support that they need and that the members would be very happy to answer questions that they may have and concerns about the cochlear implant. As I was walking I could hear noises and I didn't know what exactly it was it was thinking it might have been the boys video games making the noise. We went on and I got out of the car and started walking I heard it again. I only heard it when I was walking then I realized it was claimed in my pocket that was making the sound and that I could also hear digger's tag on her collar jingling. I'll so now know what the mouse on the computer makes a noise but since the mapping is really really loud clicking noise and high in no now why when I'm on the computer and John is trying to sleep that clicking noise in keeping him up in the computer was in the other room. I'm hearing a lot of new sounds that I've never heard, and it's amazing what a little bit of tweaking can do to your hear better and it's is awesome. I do not have to go back to the audiologist until I know the difference in my hearing. She asked me to do the replacement test to see what my score is. When I got home I got all my listening room Clix advanced listening practice with both ears and I took the test and I got a score of 93% you talk about someone being excited I was so excited that I was jumping up and down and squealing in the delight. I never have gotten that high on a score. And I was like the people on. hearing journey-it gets better and better. I will keep you posted is on some of wow moments in my progress.

My First Bilateral Mapping

2010-02-09T15:51:00.003-06:00

February 4,2010 I went to get my first bilateral mapping.... Well here is what happen that day! I got there at 10 am CST and John could not go with me and that was OK! I understand with the type of job he has! While I was waiting to be called back, there was a new CI patient I was talking with. He asked me how I was doing with CI and I told him that I was there for a tune up and he and his wife laughed. There was one other person asking about the Chochlear implant and I told him how it works.

The new CI patient was telling me that Donna told him to go to hearingjourney.com to the listening room and that he can work on the clix to improve his hearing. He said that it look like something a kid would use. I told him that your brain is like a newborn baby and it is relearning and you have to work hard at it and if you do not work at it you will not get better. As I was talking, Donna came out and asked if we are having a party and that she would join us and we all laughed and said yes. She asked what we were talking about and I told her that I was telling the new CI patient that he needs to work hard to retraining the brain to hear better; that it is not a quick fix and that it take time and a lot hard work. Donna said you have heard it from someone that knows and that she had been there and that she had her first implant for one year today!!

Donna called me to the back and she ask how things were going for me. I told her that I hear better with Hi Res 120 then the regular program. I just could not understand speech at all without the 120. So she put me on the P Hi Res 120 on all 3 slots. We talked and she was telling me that I was talking to her without looking at her to read lips and the (left)processor was not in at all. It as awesome and we were getting excited that I was doing so well.

She was concerned about changing the radio frequencies and that the (right)might not stay locked. Well we tried it to see what would happen and it stayed on with no problem. She thinks that I was swollen where the magnet was. During this time we had the(left)processor on and each time she turned on the (right)ear the (left) would have a static sound. It finally stayed static long enough so we could try figure out what was going on. When we put on the body processor it stopped. The problem was the processor itself. Donna called AB to tell them that the processor they sent is bad. And what was next. Will there's more. She said that the number on the processor did not match the number on the box at all. Then Donna kept looking at the (left) ear and ask if my ears hurt at all and I told her that the right did I figured it was from the surgery.

She had me go to see Dr.Schwaber (her husband) to see if everything was okay. They looked in my ears and he said that Donna was worried about the left ear and come to find out that the right had a small infection in it but, not to bad of one. His nurse told him that she was trying to get the wax out of my ear and that she seen dry skin flips in my ear. she was trying to get them out and he told her do not do that they will come out on their own. He gave me ear drops to put in my ears and told to put them in twice a day for four days. He said I should come back to get my new processor from Donna on Monday Feb 8Th at 3 p.m. and that we will try to do a mapping. Donna and Dr.Schwaber were shocked on how will I was doing with the right ear alone.

On the way home I was listening to music and I could understand the words to the song and it blew me away. I was shocked I could hear that with the right ear alone and I was not to wear the left processor until Monday. Then I got stuck behind a really bad weark. I could hear all the fire trucks, police cars, ambulance coming behind me.Iam thankful that I cound hear them because it was a two lane road. I had to call John so he would not worry and I could hear him on the phone and it was just the second week since activation. When I got home John called on the home phone and I could hear and understand him.

I am so even though not everything has worked. I can hear with the one ear for now and I'm happy to say that as long as I can hear that I'm truly blessed. So that what happen that day!!!

Unexpected Appiontment

2010-02-03T20:47:00.005-06:00

On Friday January 22, I got up to get John off to work. We were setting at the Kitchen table having a wonderful conversation and laughing and we were both so happy that I could hear so well and things were going pretty good. Later I took James and Jeremy to school and I was hearing very well.

While I was paying for James's lunch in the cafeteria I was talking to the cafeteria manager about the implant and how it works. She said that she had a grandson that has a hard time hearing.I told her how to get in touch with hearing journey.com and Advanced Bionics and to set up an appointment to see if her grandson qualifies for the chochlear implant. Then all of a sudden my right ear a sound and then it was not connecting. The sound was like a sonar ping in a submarine indicating a target. I called Dr.Donna Schwaber and told her what was happening.She ask if I tried changing the magnet and I told her yes, that I even tried the battery and the t-mic and I could not get the environmental sound in the room. I could only hear that one sound. She said that the processor was not working and that she would call Advanced Bionics and see if they can send me a new processor overnight and I told her thank you very much.

The next day the new processor came and I changed the processors out and the new processor was making the same sound and I was getting really worried it might be something serious. I called Dr Schwaber at her home and she told me to come in on Monday January 25 at 2 p.m. and we can see what going on.

That Monday I went in and they called me to the back and Donna hooked me up to the computer. The first thing she noticed was that the processor was cutting itself off and she told me to relax. It was the lock and that the two magnets were not locking. She tried a new setting to see if they would lock and they would still not lock. She said that she had to change the radio frequencies in order to get it to lock. After that , my left ear started having a static sound. I called her back and told her what was going on, She said for me to call Advanced Bionics and talk to them. So I called them and they believed it was that two magnets on my left ear were bad and they sent me two new ones. Well, it wasn't the magnets. I called Danna back, and she said that she thinks she can fix it. That it could be something she can fix and it may be the radio frequency that she changed on the right ear that might be causing it. So I go tomorrow to get everything right. Thanks to my family,Audiologist(Donna), friends from hearing journey and face book for their support.

Bilateral Activation

2010-02-03T19:30:00.003-06:00

Me with my new processor on and to show you a new trick thatDonna show me.

Dr.Donna Schwaber head Audiologist and me with her Husband Dr.Mitchell K.Schwaber M.D. This is the husband and wife CI team that is so good to me.

Two weeks ago on January 21 I had my activation day. John was with that day and in no time they called us back. She asked me how I was doing and if I was ready for the big day! I told her that I was very excited and that I was keeping my expectation low and she said that's a good idea.

She told me that things would sound robotic again, and to be patient and it might go away in a few day or weeks. John asked her if it's almost like a radio transmitting frequencies and she said no. Nothing like that and she explained to him how it works.

She hooked me up to the computer and told me to take the left Chochlear Implant off and told me to be quiet and still while she tested the electrodes. As she was testing them, I could hear the electrode fire up and she turn the computer to where I could see how it works. Each time the electrode was fire up it was a higher pitch. As I was watching, all 16 electrodes were fired up and I was getting excited as I was hearing all the different pitches as each was turned on. It was totally different from the first time because all I could hear was beep beep.

She told me she would be turning the processor on and after she turned it on, she ask me "Can you hear me or understand what I'm saying? I said yes and I broke down in tears. I was so excited because I could understand her and John without the left chochlear implant on and not looking at her all the time.

She had me put on the left processor and she asked me how things sounded with it. Things sounded normal and she was getting excited because she said that a good thing and that I would do really well on that right ear. She had me on three programs and of them are hires P 120 and one is not.

She asked me to try each one for a couple of days to see how they sound and to let her know and we can go from there. She said that I will see you in one week, but the appointment had been change to February 4 at 10 a.m.

Two Week Follow Up

2010-01-17T11:48:00.005-06:00

On January 14,2010,I went for my two week follow up after surgery for the Chochlear Implant. The Nurse took me and the boys back to a room where she started taking 16 staples out of my ear and the boys stood behide me and watch her take them out.

Dr Schwaber came in and smiled and said you've got company today as he watch the nurse finish taking out the staples out. He said that there were four staples that were not straight. He asked me how things were going and I told him that John was little worried about the back of my head. I told him that a few days ago we bought in our two big dogs that we keep outside because it was cold. The big female dog was attacking digger, our small dog, in the kitchen and I was right in the middle of it. John was trying to get to me and he was trying to move a chair to get to me and it hit me in the back of the head. He checked my head and said that everything looked okay and the implants look good. He told me that he thought that I was going to do really well with the right ear and that I was doing really well with the left ear,and that it was a go-ahead for activation day,January 21, 2010

The Second Surgery

2010-01-09T10:18:00.013-06:00

Jan 10, 2010 11 days after surgery

Fouth day after surgery

Three days after surgery

Me with Jeremy hugging me at Pizza Hut after surgery

My Loving husband John With me after surgery
My sons James and Jeremy With me after surgery
Me after surgery

On Wednesday, December 30, 2009, I had my second cochlear implant surgery. We arrived at the hospital at 5:40 AM. The staff gave us a card with the number on it for the privacy of patients so they feel more comfortable when being called to surgery. When the nurse called me back she was talking to soft that John could not hear her calling our number and had to ask her if she was calling our number. she also called a another lady to come back at the same time.

The nurse was new and had put me in the wrong bed and the other lady in the wrong bed. The new nurse came back in and said you need to let me get ready to put a catheter in you and John said what the *******? She said ," Your wife is having a kidney transplant."John said to her , "You have the wrong woman! My wife is having a chochlear implant put in!!!!" Then someone else came in and told us they were sorry and that she was new girl here.

Later they came to get me and I told John and the boys bye and that I love them very much and they look at me like it is the last they would ever see me and I told them I will be back. They wheeled me to pre-op waiting area where they set me up with an IV and preparations for surgery.

We had to wait on Dr.Schwaber to get there and while we were waiting on him the CI team stay with me. I was happy to know that the CI team was with me and there names are Somorrow,Dana,Judy,Kimberley, This was the same CI team I had the first time. Dr.Schwaber was running 15 minutes late. He finally showed up and they marked my head and they gave me something to relax me.

John told me the surgery started at 7:45 a.m. The nurse said they would bring the CI processor from my first CI out to him but the nurse never did bring it to him and he was getting worried that something was wrong. The doctor called him on his cell and told him that everything was fine and all 16 electrodes fired up successfully in the OR and that I was doing great. The head nurse had the CI processor to put back on me so I could hear when I woke up in recovery. I got into recovery at 10 a.m. and back with John and the boys at 11:30 and was released at 12 noon. John had a blanket and the neck pillow in the car.

On the way home we stopped at Walmart to get my medications and the boys said that they were hungry and that they would like to have Pizza Hut. I told John that I was up to having Pizza to so we stopped at the Pizza Hut on the way home and that was just down the road from Walmart. We ate Pizza and talked for a little bit and John had ordered more pizza to take home for the boys to eat. We were home at 5 p.m. I had to sleep with my head elevated for about a week and the pressure bandage was off the next day. I was not allow to drive for two weeks I go back to Dr,Schwaber on January 14th to have a post-op check and to take the staples out. One week later on January 21 will be activation day.

My Approveal And Pre-Op

2010-01-08T22:22:00.003-06:00

December23,2009, John called the insurance company to see if I got their approval for surgery for the second implant. The insurance companies said yes, it is a medical necessity to have a second implant and that they would pay for it to be done. They also told me to have my pre-op done on December 28, 2009. John, the boys and I went to St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee to get my pre-op done on December 28,2009 Wednesday's surgery.

When they called me back to get all the paperwork done, while the nurse was doing this, she kept looking at me and said "I remember you and when you were here the last. It was 11 months ago to get the chochlear implant for your left ear." I said yes and she said "Isn't it funny that I got all your paperwork" The first time was months ago. John and I and the lady laughed so hard about it was really funny to have the same pre-op registration nurse.

She asked me if I was going for the second implant and I answered yes. She said "You are really doing well on your first one" and smiled as we were going to another station to get other things done. She looked at the boys and said your mom and I are buddies and told John to take good care of me until Wednesday as they would take over at the time of the surgery and then he can have me back. So everything is set for Wendnesday December 30,2009

My First Christmas With My CI

2010-01-08T21:44:00.005-06:00

On Christmas day, December 25, 2009 I celebrate Christmas the first time with my CI, it was amazing. I could hear my grandchildren laugh and play. They squealed in delight over what they got from Santa, and from granddaddy, and granny Nee Nee. Also to hear the boys and their excitement on what they found under the tree that santa brought them. The boy screamed in delight when they saw their bikes, and their gifts and saw their BB rifles, bows and arrows,Wii games, and movies. It was wonderful, able to hear the happiness that everyone was having and to be able to hear the music and the round table and hear what everyone was saying and understanding. It was a amazing. I cannot remember hearing the children laughing and playing with such excitement. WOW..... these are the memories that I will remember for the rest of my life and cherish-these are special times that I can hear with my CI. I was so blessed this Christmas, and I just can't say it in words how grateful and blessed I feel to have family and friends such as you. Thank you Lord for our wonderful blessed year of 2009. Thanks for support from family and my friends from hearing journey.com, and from Facebook

My Last Mapping Before The Surgery

2009-12-14T17:56:00.011-06:00

December 8, 2009 I got my last mapping I will get before my surgery.My audiologist said that she set me on the S program the last time I was there and she wanted me to try each one of them.Well, I tried them since the last mapping, and I have noticed that I had a hard time understanding when someone is talking to me in a quiet or noisy place.

I told her that I took a replacement test before came to the office and that I had dropped from 86% down to 75% with the S program which is not good for me. She told me that she wanted me to try some new programming that was totally new and to see how I do. And she said that she was going to be back on the P program and that she would not let me on high fidelity 120 yet. She said she wanted to try new tips and strategies that advance bionics have provided her.

So I'm trying a new programming with the tips and strategies that AB has provided her. She asked me if I've been practicing on hearing journey.com, and I told her yes, that I do the practicing and exercises on there. She told me that she wished that all of her patients would try to practice focusing on what's being said. She telling me that she has asked former patients if they had been practicing in the listening room on hearing journey.com she tells me that they say well,"No," that they thought it was a waste of time and they thought that when they got the implant or implants that they would be able to hear normally like a hearing person. And she told them, that is not a quick fix, and that they are going to have to do practices and exercises to get better. She told me that she had told them about me and that I was a good example on how well you can do by going to the listening room and practicing each day for one hour or two, and not only there, but to listen audiotapes, and music. She asked me if I was listening to audiotapes and music, and I told her yes, that I was doing this on the computer. Going to Youtube.com, and listening to music there. She was happy to hear that I was doing so well and keeping up the good work and that she put me on 100% T-Mic.

We talked about people that have hearing loss, and the ones in the deaf community and how they feel about where they are between the hearing world and the deaf world.I told her that I knew people in the deaf community, and they feel that they are safe and secure in that community.I believe there are some in the hearing world that have hard time understanding the ones that have in hearing loss and wear hearing aids or are deaf.Though they tell us to turn up your hearing aids if we can't hear them, they give up push us a side. And she said that is true, because the hearing people don't really understand how hard it is for us.

She asked me what I think I would consider myself being in, the hearing world or the deaf world? And I told her that I don't think I'm being either world that I am in CI community and I'm between the hearing world and the deaf world. Because I hear during the day, but at night, I'm deaf, and then I had the best of both worlds.So that's why I say that I am between the two worlds, and that I have a wonderful technology to where I could be from both worlds.

She said that she would try the high fidelity 120 after the second implant is done in a few mappings after the activation day. She said that she set activation date, January 21, 2010 at 10 AM, and that is the day after my granddaughters birthday and a week after my birthday and Johns.

She told me that on December 7, she had called the insurance company and they told her that she did not put the "word for word test" in the report, and she had faxed a new report to them with the" word for word test" that they need to have to approve the surgery.

She commented that she will keep calling the insurance's company until they give the approval.Thanks to my CI team I have a good chance to get the second implant.Thank you, Dr. Donna Schwaber for pushing to get my approval for the second cochlear implant.I have take the replacement test again to see where I'm at with the P program and I scored a 88% at this time.

The appointment with the surgeon

2009-11-22T10:43:00.007-06:00

Last Tuesday, November 17, I went to see Dr. Schwaber to see if I qualify to go biateral. He asked me how I was doing and said that he would like to look at the chart and to see how my hearing test was. He asked me how I was doing with the hearing aid, and could see by the test that I had lost all my hearing, but 5%.

He told me that he had noticed that I had a generic hearing loss with the shrinking of the canals, but that was not the reason why loss my hearing. He said that my ear just gave out, but he did ask me if there was anyone else in my family that had the shrinking of the canals and I told him yes. My grandmother did she was alive and that my uncle had it also. He told me to be sure that I have the hearing tests done on the boys once a year and that we need to keep an eye on the them if there seems to be a change in their hearing.

He said let's get back to the evaluation. He said ,actually you do qualify for the second implant but I was hoping that you would be able to wear a hearing aid and the implant for a little bit longer. I told him that I had a hard time hearing with the cochlear implant hearing aid together.

He said that there was a lot of people that are like that and have a hard time, because there are two different types of sounds coming together from two different devices. You're one of these people They can't handle the cochlear and the hearing aid together. He said he was surprised and shocked that I was doing so well on my left ear and that I had a mild hearing loss, he also said that he could tell that I have been working hard on getting my hearing at that level. For me to continue to keep up my practices and exercises up. He said, unfortunately, we will have to do another CAT scan because of insurance requires it. I told him that his wife and I think that I do not need to have another CAT scan done and that we could go with along with the one that we had from the first evaluation. He laughed and said I have to trust my wife on this one. He added that we are going to set your surgical date. I told him that we have already have a surgical date set for December 30, 2009 and he said cool, you guys are ahead of me. He smiled and laughed, and said I will see you on December 30.

The Opening Of The New Advanced Bionics Nashville chapter

2009-11-21T16:23:00.014-06:00

On October 26, 2009 Advanced Bionics held a kickoff for their new Nashville Chapter. Elizabeth McDonald an audiologist from Advanced Bionics and Kelly Harris were the speakers at the kickoff. Elizabeth started off by welcoming everyone to the kickoff and had everyone introduce themselves. Elizabeth then told everyone about the Bionic Ear Association.

We were asked if anyone was mentor and volunteer. They talked about, what the mentor and volunteer does for the Bionic Ear Association (BEA) and we were asked if anyone else who would like to be one. After she talked about the BEA, and we discussed when we would have a chapter meetings, the time and the place. We decided that we would have the meeting every three months and that we would have them at the Nashville public Library in downtown Nashville. We also talked about "a walk for hearing"in the spring, but that will be discussed at the next meeting when the time and date will be set.

The new Nashville Chapter is for people that are recipients and people that have the AB Cochlear Implant to come together and talk about their story's and to get to know one another, as well as to family members of CI users to get support and help with questions that need to be answered.

Members in the chapter want to reach out to others because there are some people that do not know about the AB Cochlear Implant. We want, share information and providing support through the process of evaluations, surgeries, mappings, or any other experience unique to the hearing impaired and users of cochlear implants. We hope this Chapter will be a big success and will be helpful to many that are hard of hearing that are seeking information on AB cochlear implants and CI users.

Thank you Advanced Bionics for this new chapter for the counties in the state of Tennessee and the surrounding areas. Thank you again for this wonderful technology to help others hear again.

A New Journey Has Begun Going Bilateral

2009-11-21T14:37:00.011-06:00

The evaluation on November 13,2009

It seem like it was yesterday, and I was getting the evaluation for the first implant and that time has flown by so fast that it's hard to believe it only been 10 months ago. I have been doing a lot of thinking in the last two weeks about how my hearing has been doing the last 10 months. But the last two months been struggling on hearing and understanding what people are saying and I know something had to be wrong with my hearing in my right ear, and knowing deep inside something was really wrong with my hearing. Now, my left ear has been doing pretty good in the listening room practices and exercise.

It was scoring at 86% in quiet and 76% when background noise was going on as I was doing the replacement test. On Friday the 13Th, I went for my hearing test evaluation to see if I qualify for the second implant. When I got there, she asked how I was doing on my hearing with the hearing aid alone. And told her that I was really struggling to understand what somebody was saying. And then I had to look at them to lip read.

She said okay, let's do a test and see where you stand on your hearing in your right ear and see how well you do with CI ear by itself. And then we will talk about it. So she put me in testing both and hook me up she told me to push the button when I hear sounds and when they beeped without a hearing aid or CI in.

Then she came back in and told me to put CI back in, and she said I'm going to test you to see how well you can hear the sounds that are coming out of the speaker. I said okay, so she tested me, and then she came back in and told me to put the hearing aid back in, and then she was going to play a man's voice, and he is going to say sentences with background noise, and and she wanted me to repeat what I heard or not to say anything if I didn't understand it.

Ater all the testing was done she told me how I was doing and showed me the chart where my hearing stood. She said it was good news, and I qualify for the second implant and the bad news was that I had lost all my hearing, but 5%. But she said that I would lose that percentage when I have the surgery done and she said it was not much to lose. The other good news was that my left ear in low tones was ranging in the mild hearing loss and that my high frequencies could be better, but we can work on it. She also said once we get the surgery done I can come back to get activated that we would work on balancing the ears to where I could understand everything and that she was going to contact the insurance company and give her report to them .Then we would have to wait for the letter to come back, She told me to come back on Tuesday, November 17 at 11:30 AM to see the surgeon.

After all of this, I've come to realize that this is a blessing from the Lord to give me this wonderful technology to hear again and to help others like me. And to help professionals such as nurses, doctors learn how to communicate with us when we are in the hospital, offices, clinics. This wonderful technology is letting me help others with their upcoming surgeries and their research for the best Cochlear Implant that is right for them. Thank you Advance Bionics for giving me my hearing back.

What Has Been Going On Since Activation

2009-11-11T17:31:00.016-06:00

Me ,Debbie Bottles and Her Brother Steve At The AB Social
June 18, 2009 In Nashville,Tn

Me ,Janet w. Haines, and Eric Schloss At The AB Social
June 18,2009 In Nashville, Tn

Evelyn Garner and Me At The AB Social
June 18,200 In Nashville, TN

The First Mapping

on March 3, 2009 I had My first mapping on my cochlear implant since activation.It was recommended that you take notes of what I could hear or not hear.My audiologist told me that I did not have all my higher frequencies turned on last week because they were hurting my ear.Today,she turned on some of the higher frequencies and man it made a big a different on the way things sound....She said that I shocked her on how well I could hear her.

I trucks on the road from the eighth floor in the building.I could hear the dial tone on the phone on a low setting.I could hear the birds today, and that was awesome.My audiologist also said that she was shocked that I was practicing 3 to 4 times a day, and that I was leaving the hearing aid out all day.

She wanted me to go bilateral too, were both ears will be done.I had ringing in my right ear, really bad and they gave me medicine to try to calm it down.She told me that I was wearing the program hi Res fidelity 120.I go back on Monday, March 30, and John will go with me.

John said that I whisper, since I've been activated and its fanny, and he Say's huh?.... I laughed so hard tears rolled down my face.It feels so good not to have people to repeating to me all the time and it gets better and better..... this year is going to be an awesome year.Thanks to my family and friends for their support.

The Second Mapping

on March 30, I went for my second mapping at audiologist office she said,It's been one month since I've seen you. She looked at my notes and talked to John to find out how things were going. I told her that I have been working hard all my practice. She told me to stop practicing so hard it sits back and smell the roses.... as the old saying goes.

She said"don't get me wrong, I'm happy that you want to work so hard, but the deal is that your brain needs a rest and not to do it eight hours a day. You can practice every day just do it 1 to 2 hours. That should be enough"then she asked to trim his mustache and his beard away from his mouth So,I can lip read easier.

She told me to practice on, just hearing the sounds around me, everyday sounds. She said that she had changed my settings and let's try to see if You can't understand John. I could understand John and her are really well. My audiologist, tell me that everything was turned on, and on program one She put Hi Res-S map, and program two was hi Res-P map and program three was increased sensitivity for quiet, TV, or distance listening. She said that she wanted me to try all three programs to see which one I like best. Then, audiologists said she wanted to schedule to see me in two months. But if I needed her before that, to call and she would work me in to see her. So now I'm hearing great and understanding. It feels awesome!!!!

Hearing New Sounds

on April 15 I have been so busy. Not just working on the blog, all of us being sick and all the tornado warnings out, and other than that things are going great. I've been hearing new sounds like the tornado sirens When they went off and I've never heard that before, and when I go for walks on the Green way I could hear the frogs, woodpeckers, crickets and the water in the creek beside the path. I can hear music in understand the words in the song and hear on the phone.

now, when someone calls me I have to take it slow to where I can hear what the person is saying but, in the last two days I can hear the computer running,the water running from another room, and hear the boys game boys playing as they were doing their games.

Now I've tried each program this week, and I'll was on the P-program hi Res fidelity 120 and things were really loud and I had to turn the volume down so, I've learned a lot of new words on the listening room, and I have not done that in two weeks.

I am learning new sounds and new words each day, and it's hard to put it in words of what I am feeling, but I can say that things are going great. And I'm taking one day at a time.

The Warm Welcome In Jeremy's Classroom

On April 28, I want to Jeremy's classroom today and to watch the class for his teacher. So she can get things done that need to be turned into the office. It was my first time back since my surgery and they gave me the warmest welcome back with lots of hugs. There was questions about how I was doing on my hearing, and they asked if they could help me practice up on words. I told them sure, and to go-ahead. So I took my hearing aid out, and they ask me words in different tones and different voices. And they asked if they could give me a test to see how well I was doing. And I said sure, and I repeated the words from the Young boys and girls. And they said "WOW" that IS amazing that you can hear out of that ear. Then I asked how that works, I showed him my processor and let them see it and touch it. They said "WOW" that's cool , Ms. Widener. It was great having you here today and we hope that you will come back and substitute our class.

The Third Mapping

It was June 24,2009 When I had my third mapping. I took my notes to show the audiologist on what I can hear and not hear in the last to months. I told her that I did a replacement test on Hearing Journey.com. And told her that my score was 76%. she was happy to hear that I was doing so well on the listening practice. I also told her that I was trying to do the listening practice with background noise to see how well I can focus.

My audiologist hooked me up to the computer and said right off the my high frequencies were to high and not even. The girl that she was training had set me to high. so she turned me down to 5, she said that this setting she put me on would be much better.

My son James was with me that day, and she asked him what I was having a hard time with, he said that I was having a hard time hearing daddy (hubby), which was true.
we worked on the three programs for two hour, and that my audiologist thought that I would really do good with.

Well, she was right! She had James stand a little ways behind me and had him talk to me. I heard every word and understood what he was saying . The first program that was for noisy places. the second one was for TV, and one -on-conversations. the third one was just like the first one, but just a little louder.

When I got home, John and the boys said that I was whispering, and that I need to talk louder. Again it was funny that they was the one's going huh? I have to go back on July 20 th for a hearing test to see if I need a new hearing aid in the right ear.

Meet The People From Hearing Journey

On June 18, 2009 John and the boys and I went to the Advanced Bionic social at the convention center in Nashville, Tennessee. When I got there , I got to met Bethanne, Katie,Eric, Evelyn, Abbie, Tina ,Sam and Jennifer along with many others I met on hearing journey forum.

They help me every step of the way from the time that I had to pick out my processor to the time of surgery, activation and mappings. They also help me understand the learning to hear again takes time, patience and practice.

These people are one of the most sweetest group of people. They gave me as well as my family,determination and a positive outlook on the days to come.Iam grateful to have these people in my life, who have helped me every step of the way. I do hope that I get to go to Milwaukee, WI in June 2010 for the HLAA convention that will be held there.

The Hearing Test To See What's Going On

On July 20, 2009 I went to my audiologist to see if I need a new hearing aid or if there was something wrong. The first thing they did was to test the hearing aid to see to see if it was messed up. The second thing they did was to test my hearing to see if it was changed in the last six months before.

We found out there was nothing wrong with the hearing aid and, she told me that I had a gotten where my brain was having trouble understanding with the hearing aid and the CI together.I was told that my right ear is down enough to where I can get the second implant and she told me not to wear my hearing aid for three months until my next mapping. They also wanted me to talk to the CI audiologist to see if she wanted me to get another CI or to wear the hearing aid for the time being.

The CI audiologist told me that my brain cannot handle the hearing aid and the CI together andfoe ne to keep the hearing aid out ,and to try to give my brian time to adjust and then we will talk about it at the next mapping.

The Fourth Mapping

On September 30, 2009 I went on my Fourth mapping, and the audiologist ask me how things were going and I told her that I was getting dizzy at times , I had to take the off the CI or take the hearing aid out and to order for me to stop getting dizzy.I told her that I know that she told me to keep the hearing aid out. But there was times that I needed the hearing aid to understand John, but, it didn't help. It just made things worse, and I told her that the processor or the head piece was kicking off and on as well. And That I was having trouble with the words that sound the same such as cool, tool, pool.

so, she said that she would change my programming back to the S- program, and she checked my processor, and the head piece. she said she notice that it was kicking off and on.She had a new processor at her office and she put the head piece on the new processor, and it was not kicking off and that it was not the head piece and it was the old processor that was messing up. she said that she had already change the program back to S-program. she said the she would like to see if I could understand her with something in front of her mouth with the rhyming words and the same sounding word .She told that she thought that the program that I had from the last mapping was to strong for me for that right ear.

she said that I have three new programs, the fist one was set at reduced sensitivity for the car noise and restaurant, the second program was for everyday listening, three was increased sensitivity for distance, phone, maybe TV, and a soft-spoken person. And she ask me if I did a replacement test and I told her yes,that it was a score of 86% and she was really happy about how the right ear was doing. She ask me to think about going bilateral and to let her know was I decided.

My Decision On Going Bilateral

On October 30,2009 John and I talked about how well I was doing on my hearing and we talked about how I would probably do if I was to go bilateral. so we called the insurance company to see how much we would have to pay out-of-pocket.so, on November 2, I called My CI audiologist and told her my decision. she told me good, I told her what that insurance company told John that if they approve me to get the second implant and that I need to get it done before December 31 of this year so that I would only have to pay a small amount out-of-pocket.

She said okay and that she would get back to me as soon as she can find out if they can do the surgery before December 31. That afternoon she called me back and told me that I have appointment with her on November 13 at 12 o'clock noon. For me to have the hearing test and the evaluation and that I had an appointment with the surgeon on November 17, and that she had scheduled the surgery for December 30,2009 at 7:30 am if the insurance approves for the surgery.

Activation Day

2009-06-09T11:47:00.008-05:00

" Hi this is Jeremy. On February 24,2009 my mom had activation for her Cochlear implant. My mom did great today .She heard right off the bat! My mom's audiologist was mega happy. She heard beeeeeeep beeeeeeep. I also video taped some of it. My mom was laughing with excitement. This was an exciting day for my mom!!!!"

Those are the words my son posted on Hearing Journey on hook-up day. It was a special day for the whole family.

This was a great day indeed! My audiologist did several test with beeps and I heard every little beep. We were all laughing at how excited I was to be hearing the beeps. Then my audiologist turned up the volume and it was hurting me ear so was decided to to leave it soft to start. She was so Happy for the way things were going she was grinning from ear to ear with me. In the three slots used for programming. My audiologist put a soft one in the first and increased the volume in the number two and louder on the number three.

After the hook-up , Jeremy and I went to Target. I could hear people's shoes on the floor, people talking and the pings and the beeps of the cash register. When we were in the car, I could enjoy the music even though I could not yet understand the words. Just having sound in my left ear is was awesome man......... and everything sound normal with the implant and the hearing aid together!The implant alone sounds like Darth Vader.

I'm hearing so many new sounds and it is awesome that it brings tears to my eyes. It has been 46 years-and now I can hear! I'm on cloud nine and I hope you can feel the excitement!!!!!!

Surgery and Recovery

2009-05-08T08:46:00.010-05:00

day after surgery

Jennifer and I after sugery

John and I after surgery

February 4,2009 was the day of my surgery.I was to be at the hospital at 5:30 AM and the surgery would start at7:00 AM. My family and I arrived at the hospital at 5:15 AM to get signed in.We waited 30 minutes and the nurse called us back to the room.

As I was getting ready the nurse showed the boys where they could watch TV and then came back to the room to ask me questions and fill out the paper work. After that we waited 30 minutes and they came to take me back to per-surgery waiting area. John and the boys had to say their good-byes and kiss me at this point. As they were rolling me down the hall, John and the boys were crying like it was the last time they would ever see me again.

Surgery lasted 1 1/2 hours and the doctor and the audiologist told John and the boys that I was doing great and that the implant worked perfectly. I woke up in the operating room when they were taking me to recovery.

Jennifer Thorpe and her daughter got there just as they were wheeling me in to recovery. Jennifer and her daughter were there to give me comfort and support.When they brought me back to the room, I saw John, the boys, Jennifer and her daughter standing at the door with the biggest grains on their faces. As they got me in the room, then they let everyone come in. I was not woozy from drugs. I was laughing and talking like I did not have the surgery and was gaining from ear to ear.

The hospital released me that afternoon and we stopped at Walmart to get my medicines. There was a McDonald's inside the Walmart in Springfield so we went into McDonald's to get something to eat while we waited for my prescription order to be filled. I was so hungry I ate 2 chicken wraps and fries before we got my medicines and went home.

Things were going great until the weekend. I had an allergic reaction to one of the medicines that I was taking. I called the doctor's office and told them what was going on and they told me they would call in a new prescription and after a few days things got better.

With the love and support of my husband, the boys, Jennifer and her daughter by my side, and also with the people from Hearing Journey sending their support and cheering me on, I felt so blessed. God has blessed me dearly.

My New Friend and Mentor

2009-05-02T11:53:00.004-05:00

Jennifer and me at Applebee's Jan 4,2009

My doctor told me to go online and meet others with the cochlear implant. I met some wonderful people at an online community name Hearing Journey. I got some wonderful information about the cochlear implant, but I needed to see firsthand someone that has a cochlear implant. Audiologist, Katie Peters, had been emailing me and she set up a meeting with Jennifer Thorpe. She is my mentor.

I first met Jennifer on January4,2009 at a restaurant.When she first came to me, I knew it was her I introduce my husband John and the boys, James and Jeremy. She was so understanding and so patient with me and knew how I felt about everything.We sat down and she told us how she lost her hearing and she asked about mine.While we were wait for our food order, she took off one of her processors and showed us how it worked. The boys had never seen one. She showed us some pictures of people from hearing journey and when she had cochlear implant surgery. She was so happy about how thing were going for me and my family.For two hour she answered questions that John and I had and played with the boys making us all laugh.

I know I was lost between the hearing world and the deaf world. My new journey is now starting and I want people to see that we are so blessed.I thankful for the love, support and understanding of my husband,boys and my new friend and mentor. Life is so rich and blessed and I thank God for giving us the implants so we can hear again.

My Evaluation for the Cochlear Implant

2009-04-26T19:14:00.004-05:00

One day I was taking the boys for a check-up at E.NT. with one of the doctors there at the office. Lo and behold there stood Dr.Schwaber that I was seeing at Vady clinic 20 years ago to see if I qualified for the cochlear implant.Back then they only would do the good ear and I had 40% hearing in the right ear at that time. Dr Schwaber and I talked for a few minutes, he asked when was the last time I had my ears checked. I told him that it was 2 years ago at Sha Ear clinic in Memphis,Tn and that Dr.Emmet said that I missed getting the cochlear implant by 5 point in my right ear. Dr Schwaber asked me to come in on November 18,2008 to do a quick hearing teat to see were my hearing was. John and I had a talk with Dr.Schwaber. He ask me to close my eyes and asked me to touch my nose. I did not hear him ask me to touch my nose.

Then he asked my how I felt about the cochlear implant.I told him that I never had thought about it and I had been turned down twice. He said I went you to come back to my office to do an evaluation but to first go get a cat scan on December 2,2008 and then be seen again on December 9,2008 to do a special hearing test. On December 9Th we found out that I qualified to get the cochlear implant in the left ear and that the qualification had changed and that I could get it. Then I met the audiologist Dr. Donna Schwaber that is Dr.Schwaber's wife. She talked about the cochlear implant and said that there are two brands.The one in the yellow box was the freedom and the second was in the blue box that was the Harmony. That I had to pick which one wanted. I picked the Harmony. The insurance company had given their approval December 29,2008. My boys had prayed for 3 years for this day and God as bless me to be able to get this wonderful technology.

MY JOURNEY BEFORE THE COCHLEAR IMPLANT

2009-04-14T16:08:00.006-05:00

I was born a hearing person.When I was three,my mom was taking the maid home for the day and a drunk driver hit her car head-on.My sister and the maid were in the back seat and I was asleep in the front seat of the car with my mom.No one but, my mom and I were injured. She had the steering wheel pinned on her chest...I rolled off the seat into the grove box.At the time of the crash there was a boy and his dad that help me out of the car and I never had a chance to thank them.My head was cut open from my right eye to the back of my right ear and I also had trauma to my head.They did not believe that I would not make it through the night.They said lo and behold the next morning I was sitting up playing with toys and they were in shock and could not believe it.At that time I had loss all the hearing in my left ear.They told us that I might go deaf in time, so as I grow up I had hearing tests to keep an eye on my hearing.I also had a bad arm and leg on the right side from the trauma to my head.I was blessed by God and given a second chance in life.

I was hearing just fine in the right ear and at the age of 28 things were good.One night I went to bed and the next morning I got up and noticed that something was wrong with my hearing. I called the doctor's office and told them what was wrong and they told me not to worry,that it may be wax in my ear and for me to come in so they could check it out.When he looked there was no wax in my ear at all and I knew that this was bad.They did a hearing test and found out that I had lost 50% overnight.The Doctor said that my nerve in my ear was getting weaker and that I would have to get a hearing aid.At that time I could hear some things but had a hard time understanding what a person was saying to me.I had to move back to Nashville to be close my brother and my sister.They set up for me to meet a Dr.Schwaber at vady about two years later. I met Dr.Schwaber and took my medical records of my hearing tests with me..He said that he would like to do some test to see if I qualify for the cochlear implant and found out that I could if my hearing got worse.He said that we only do the good ear and I had 40% at that time.

In mean time I went on with my life.One day I stopped at a truck stop to get gas and there I met John.We talked and we started to date.About a year later he asked me to marry him.we were married on April 8.1995.

One day John asked me how I lost me hearing.I told what happen when I was three.He asked me if the crash happened on March 3,1963 and I said "Yes" with a shocked look on my face. He asked where the crash was and I told him. I ask"Why" and he said that he and his dad helped a little girl that day and come to find that he was the boy that helped me out of the crashed car and is now my loving husband!

Two years after we were married,I noticed my hearing was getting worse and I and had to get new hearing aids,amplified telephones and the a VCO phones as the years passed. It was getting where I could not understand or hear on the phone.

Each day my hearing in the right ear is going down and at this time I have 28%in that ear. but with a husband that loves me for my heart and blessed me with two wonderful sons and step-children, we have our good time and bad together.