My New Adventure

Drum roll please..........

My music training has begun!  I'm immersing myself in MUSIC.  I haven't willingly listened to music since I was 15 and obsessed with replaying the cassette soundtrack to Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves over and over and over.  Everything I do.....I do it for YOU.......

For 20 years I have avoided music like the plague.  It was noisy, distracting and got in the way of communication with people.  I never imagined I would WANT to listen to music again.

But now I am bionic.  And it is time to integrate music into my soul.  I won't lie.  It's hard.  How anyone can understand lyrics is beyond me.  But I'm beginning to learn this new language and I'm excited about it! 

Please, share with me what songs you want me to listen to.  What song would you want to introduce to a person who hasn't truly heard music for 20 years?  I'm listening.....

Mild Loss??

The greatest thing happened today. I was at an adoptive couples house doing a home study and they asked me when I started losing hearing. I told them that it's genetic and that I was four. They then said "you do very well, it must be just a mild loss?" What a compliment! They were shocked when I told them I was practically deaf. To communicate so well that people think my hearing loss is minimal is just amazing to me!

8 Month Update

I'm doing AWESOME!!  I can't even begin to describe the miracles that occur in my world of sound on a daily basis.  I can answer questions from my kids from a different room.  I can hear the loud speaker at Joann's call for the next number.  My phone comprehension has improved dramatically (still just with the neckloop but I'll take it!).  I can understand the messages of talk radio.  The stress has just melted off me these last few months.  My hearing is nowhere near normal but I feel like the richest person in the world right now :)

Unfortunately I've had some complications.  I've struggled these last few weeks with balance issues.  It is getting better but it's been pretty debilitating.  Also, the right side of my face has been twitching due to corresponding sound entering the processor.  We have remapped and remapped and examined and ct scanned and researched.  The current theory is that it is hormone related.  Go figure.  We are waiting for my hormones to stabilize.  I do think it's related because things have been improving.  Honestly, I'm hesitant to share this part of what's been going on because I don't want to scare away those considering CI's.  But the truth is that a CI is a risk and you need to go in with your eyes wide open.  I would still do it again even with these complications. 

However, these happenings have led me to postpone my second surgery.  It is just not a good idea to alter my inner ear equilibrium on the left side right now.  But even more than that, I don't feel right about it.  I wish I did.  But God has a bigger plan than what I can understand.  Trusting Him has always blessed me more than going with my own Will.  I will just keep giving praise every day for the gift I have been given and continue to work on improving that gift.