NEW TO LIFE OF HEARING IMPARED CHILD.....

[Guest guest]

MY NAME IS MICHELLE AND MY DAUGHTER IS COURTNEY WHO IS 7 YRS OLD SOON

TO BE 8. WE HAVE LEAD A LIFE OF EVERYTHING BEING AS NORMAL AS ANY LIFE

COULD BE UNTIL THE FAITHFUL DAY OF OCTOBER 19,2007. MY DAUGHTER WAS

DIAGNOSED W/BACTERIAL SPINAL MENINGITIS AND LOST HER HEARING I FIGURE

DURING THE NIGHT OF THE 18TH OF OCTOBER. IT WAS THE ONLY TIME I'VE EVER

FELT COMPLETELY HELPLESS AND AFRAID THAT I WOULD LOSE MY DAUGHTER. IN A

SENCE I HAVE LOST THE CHILD I BROUGHT INTO THE WORLD AND WAS GIVEN A

NEW CHILD ON THE 19TH OF OCTOBER. I GRIEVED FOR MY BEAUTIFUL BABY AS

SHE WAS AND NOW HAVE ACCEPTED WHO SHE HAS BECOME. IT HAS BEEN A VERY

HARD FAST ROAD WE HAVE TRAVELED IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS AND NOW

COURTNEY HAS THE COCHLEAR IMPLANTS IN BOTH EARS AS OF DECEMBER 28,2007

AND ON FEBRUARY 12,2008 WE'LL KNOW IF THERE WILL BE SOUND AGAIN. I'M

VERY EXCITED AND VERY HOPEFUL.OUR DR,DR.DANIEL CHOO OF CINCINNATI

CHILDRENS HOSPITAL, I MUST SAY IS THE VERY BEST IN THIS AREA OF

EXPERTISE AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO HIM FOR THE OPPORTUNITY HE HAS

GIVEN COURTNEY. IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT I NEED TO KNOW PLEASE FEEL

FREE TO GIVE ME ADVISE. THE QUIET WORLD OF THE DEAF IS A NEW WAY OF

LIFE TO ME AND I CERTAINLY CAN USE ALL THE MORAL SUPPORT I CAN

GET.....THANK YOU,MICHELLE

[Guest guest]

& , you have been through a lot in a short time. the best

to you. Go in there with low expectations and high hopes.

[Guest guest]

, just wanted to let you know that I lost my hearing the very same

way. I was 12 at the time and yes it was a very big change in my life. Then

we didn't have the advantages that we do today, so I was deaf. I did learn

to read lips by going to a speech reader, then I had to go to the school for

the deaf for a few years. It was very hard on me, your daughter is a few

years younger than I was but she is going to need your help to adjust. I'm

just

thankful that she could get the implants so soon, she will still remember

words and should have no problem at all hearing again once she is turned on.

Prayers and good luck to you all.

If you are wondering I was totally deaf for 42 years.

Patsy

freedom

feb 24th 2006

activated march 27, 2006

In a message dated 1/15/2008 5:24:32 P.M. Central Standard Time,

ted.fletcher@... writes:

Hello , I think your Caps lock is on :-)

Welcome to the group and just remember that the loss of hearing is

probably even more traumatic for your daughter. You did well to get

bi-laterals so quickly for her. I think that you are going to be

pleasantly surprised when s C.I.'s are turned on. Presumably

she could hear normally before October 19th, so the sounds are still

fresh in her brain. I wish both of you well and if you dont get the

desired result straight away, be patient and trust your audiologist.

Most of them know what they are doing :-).

Ted F.

>

> MY NAME IS MICHELLE AND MY DAUGHTER IS COURTNEY WHO IS 7 YRS OLD

SOON

> TO BE 8. WE HAVE LEAD A LIFE OF EVERYTHING BEING AS NORMAL AS ANY

LIFE

> COULD BE UNTIL THE FAITHFUL DAY OF OCTOBER 19,2007. MY DAUGHTER WAS

> DIAGNOSED W/BACTERIAL SPINAL MENINGITIS AND LOST HER HEARING I

FIGURE

> DURING THE NIGHT OF THE 18TH OF OCTOBER. IT WAS THE ONLY TIME I'VE

EVER

> FELT COMPLETELY HELPLESS AND AFRAID THAT I WOULD LOSE MY DAUGHTER.

IN A

> SENCE I HAVE LOST THE CHILD I BROUGHT INTO THE WORLD AND WAS GIVEN

A

> NEW CHILD ON THE 19TH OF OCTOBER. I GRIEVED FOR MY BEAUTIFUL BABY

AS

> SHE WAS AND NOW HAVE ACCEPTED WHO SHE HAS BECOME. IT HAS BEEN A

VERY

> HARD FAST ROAD WE HAVE TRAVELED IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS AND NOW

> COURTNEY HAS THE COCHLEAR IMPLANTS IN BOTH EARS AS OF DECEMBER

28,2007

> AND ON FEBRUARY 12,2008 WE'LL KNOW IF THERE WILL BE SOUND AGAIN.

I'M

> VERY EXCITED AND VERY HOPEFUL.OUR DR,DR.DANIEL CHOO OF CINCINNATI

> CHILDRENS HOSPITAL, I MUST SAY IS THE VERY BEST IN THIS AREA OF

> EXPERTISE AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO HIM FOR THE OPPORTUNITY HE HAS

> GIVEN COURTNEY. IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT I NEED TO KNOW PLEASE

FEEL

> FREE TO GIVE ME ADVISE. THE QUIET WORLD OF THE DEAF IS A NEW WAY OF

> LIFE TO ME AND I CERTAINLY CAN USE ALL THE MORAL SUPPORT I CAN

> GET.....THANK YOU,MICHELLE

>

**************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape.

http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489

[Guest guest]

Hello , I think your Caps lock is on :-)

Welcome to the group and just remember that the loss of hearing is

probably even more traumatic for your daughter. You did well to get

bi-laterals so quickly for her. I think that you are going to be

pleasantly surprised when s C.I.'s are turned on. Presumably

she could hear normally before October 19th, so the sounds are still

fresh in her brain. I wish both of you well and if you dont get the

desired result straight away, be patient and trust your audiologist.

Most of them know what they are doing :-).

Ted F.

>

> MY NAME IS MICHELLE AND MY DAUGHTER IS COURTNEY WHO IS 7 YRS OLD

SOON

> TO BE 8. WE HAVE LEAD A LIFE OF EVERYTHING BEING AS NORMAL AS ANY

LIFE

> COULD BE UNTIL THE FAITHFUL DAY OF OCTOBER 19,2007. MY DAUGHTER WAS

> DIAGNOSED W/BACTERIAL SPINAL MENINGITIS AND LOST HER HEARING I

FIGURE

> DURING THE NIGHT OF THE 18TH OF OCTOBER. IT WAS THE ONLY TIME I'VE

EVER

> FELT COMPLETELY HELPLESS AND AFRAID THAT I WOULD LOSE MY DAUGHTER.

IN A

> SENCE I HAVE LOST THE CHILD I BROUGHT INTO THE WORLD AND WAS GIVEN

A

> NEW CHILD ON THE 19TH OF OCTOBER. I GRIEVED FOR MY BEAUTIFUL BABY

AS

> SHE WAS AND NOW HAVE ACCEPTED WHO SHE HAS BECOME. IT HAS BEEN A

VERY

> HARD FAST ROAD WE HAVE TRAVELED IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS AND NOW

> COURTNEY HAS THE COCHLEAR IMPLANTS IN BOTH EARS AS OF DECEMBER

28,2007

> AND ON FEBRUARY 12,2008 WE'LL KNOW IF THERE WILL BE SOUND AGAIN.

I'M

> VERY EXCITED AND VERY HOPEFUL.OUR DR,DR.DANIEL CHOO OF CINCINNATI

> CHILDRENS HOSPITAL, I MUST SAY IS THE VERY BEST IN THIS AREA OF

> EXPERTISE AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO HIM FOR THE OPPORTUNITY HE HAS

> GIVEN COURTNEY. IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT I NEED TO KNOW PLEASE

FEEL

> FREE TO GIVE ME ADVISE. THE QUIET WORLD OF THE DEAF IS A NEW WAY OF

> LIFE TO ME AND I CERTAINLY CAN USE ALL THE MORAL SUPPORT I CAN

> GET.....THANK YOU,MICHELLE

>

[Guest guest]

Oh , I'm so sorry to hear about what happened to your

daughter. That is so tragic. And I'm sure she has to be so scared

and confused right now. I'm sure it's been a very tough couple of

months for you and your family.

I haven't written on this list for a long time, but when I read your

post today, I just had to respond to give you hope. I'm 45 years old

and had normal hearing my whole life. Never any sorts of problems at

all. As a matter of fact, I'm a court stenographer and have been one

for over 20 years, so " hearing " is what I do for a living. Well,

last year I noticed I just wasn't hearing as well as I had been and

went and got my hearing checked. That was in September. And 3 and a

half months later I was totally deaf in both ears. And when I say

deaf, I mean completely, utterly deaf. No sound at all, even at the

highest volumes possible. I was diagnosed with Autoimmune Inner Ear

Disease. It was devastating for me. I sincerely thought my life was

over. I spent the next eight months in total silence and in such a

deep depression I couldn't even get out of bed. It was awful. And

so very isolating. I could no longer communicate with people. So I

decided to hide away in my room by myself and suffer alone. I

thought, what's the sense of going out anymore, I can't hear anyone

and can't participate in conversations, so I stayed in the safety of

my house because I couldn't cope with my deafness. It was truly the

worst time in my life.

Now, you're probably wondering why I just told you that sad,

depressing story. Well, the reason is this: I had simultaneous

bilateral CI surgery (which means I got two CI's at the same time) on

August 21st and was activated on September 12th. Well, never in a

MILLION TRILLION years did I ever imagine that my CI's would ever

work this well!!! I am in absolute amazement! And my doctors and

audiologists are, too. I can hear sooooo well with these things,

!! And this is from a person who had normal hearing her

whole life!! And you want to know the most unbelievable part of it

all???? I am going back to work as a court stenographer next

week!!! Yes, a court stenographer, whose job it is to take down

testimony VERBATIM from witness and lawyers and judges! That's how

well these things are working.

So although I know first-hand what the past few months must have been

like for you and your daughters, PLEASE let her know that she's going

to be okay and she WILL hear again. Although your daughter is A LOT

younger than me, she's had normal hearing her whole life, just like

me, and was implanted very quickly after she went deaf, just like me,

and these are VERY important factors when considering CI's. The

wires and connections and pathways in her brain are all still there

because she's only been deaf a very short time, so I think she's

gonna do tremendously well with her CI's. When I got activated on

September 12th, I could understand speech immediately. Now granted,

everyone sounded like munchkins from the Wizard of Oz, but I COULD

HEAR!!! Then over the next four months, the sound gradually got

better and better, until today, everybody sounds pretty much like

they used to sound. It's truly amazing technology, and just reassure

your daughter that she's going to be fine. I know she must have had

a very tough couple of months, but the hard part is over now and she

only has good things to look forward to.

Sorry this was so long, but I just felt compelled to answer your

post. I just feel for your daughter so much and I want her to know

that she won't have to live a life of silence for much longer.

Please feel free to email me personally if you'd like, or if your

daughter has ANY questions at all she wants to ask, I'd love to

answer her.

Please take care and know that you made the right decision and your

daughter is gonna have a HUGE smile on her face very soon.

All my best to you and your family,

>

> MY NAME IS MICHELLE AND MY DAUGHTER IS COURTNEY WHO IS 7 YRS OLD

SOON

> TO BE 8. WE HAVE LEAD A LIFE OF EVERYTHING BEING AS NORMAL AS ANY

LIFE

> COULD BE UNTIL THE FAITHFUL DAY OF OCTOBER 19,2007. MY DAUGHTER WAS

> DIAGNOSED W/BACTERIAL SPINAL MENINGITIS AND LOST HER HEARING I

FIGURE

> DURING THE NIGHT OF THE 18TH OF OCTOBER. IT WAS THE ONLY TIME I'VE

EVER

> FELT COMPLETELY HELPLESS AND AFRAID THAT I WOULD LOSE MY DAUGHTER.

IN A

> SENCE I HAVE LOST THE CHILD I BROUGHT INTO THE WORLD AND WAS GIVEN

A > NEW CHILD ON THE 19TH OF OCTOBER. I GRIEVED FOR MY BEAUTIFUL BABY

AS

> SHE WAS AND NOW HAVE ACCEPTED WHO SHE HAS BECOME. IT HAS BEEN A

VERY

> HARD FAST ROAD WE HAVE TRAVELED IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS AND NOW

> COURTNEY HAS THE COCHLEAR IMPLANTS IN BOTH EARS AS OF DECEMBER

28,2007

> AND ON FEBRUARY 12,2008 WE'LL KNOW IF THERE WILL BE SOUND AGAIN.

I'M

> VERY EXCITED AND VERY HOPEFUL.OUR DR,DR.DANIEL CHOO OF CINCINNATI

> CHILDRENS HOSPITAL, I MUST SAY IS THE VERY BEST IN THIS AREA OF

> EXPERTISE AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO HIM FOR THE OPPORTUNITY HE HAS

> GIVEN COURTNEY. IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT I NEED TO KNOW PLEASE

FEEL

> FREE TO GIVE ME ADVISE. THE QUIET WORLD OF THE DEAF IS A NEW WAY OF

> LIFE TO ME AND I CERTAINLY CAN USE ALL THE MORAL SUPPORT I CAN

> GET.....THANK YOU,MICHELLE

>

[Guest guest]

Hi , mom of two here. Good luck and let us know what she does at

activation. Both of my kids got embarrassed, then one cried and one laughed his

head off! Being older, she'll probably do very well.

Val in AL

http://deafkidscanhear.blogspot.com

Parent Volunteer for Cochlear Awareness Network

Mom to Gage (6 3/4, one N24C w/ Freedom BWP)

Mom to Brook (4, bilateral BTEs Freedom)

co-owner of learn2hear

---------------------------------

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

, congrats on your return to work.

[Guest guest]

HI TED,

I APPRECIATE THE VERY NICE RESPONSE.NO MY CAPS ARE ON BY CHOICE.

I'M VERY HOPEFULL NOT MEANING TO SOUND DOWN IT'S JUST NOT BEEN AN EASY JOURNEY

BUT WERE ALMOST THERE, WHERE WE NEED AND WANT TO BE.....

MICHELLE

" Ted F. " <ted.fletcher@...> wrote:

Hello , I think your Caps lock is on :-)

Welcome to the group and just remember that the loss of hearing is

probably even more traumatic for your daughter. You did well to get

bi-laterals so quickly for her. I think that you are going to be

pleasantly surprised when s C.I.'s are turned on. Presumably

she could hear normally before October 19th, so the sounds are still

fresh in her brain. I wish both of you well and if you dont get the

desired result straight away, be patient and trust your audiologist.

Most of them know what they are doing :-).

Ted F.

>

> MY NAME IS MICHELLE AND MY DAUGHTER IS COURTNEY WHO IS 7 YRS OLD

SOON

> TO BE 8. WE HAVE LEAD A LIFE OF EVERYTHING BEING AS NORMAL AS ANY

LIFE

> COULD BE UNTIL THE FAITHFUL DAY OF OCTOBER 19,2007. MY DAUGHTER WAS

> DIAGNOSED W/BACTERIAL SPINAL MENINGITIS AND LOST HER HEARING I

FIGURE

> DURING THE NIGHT OF THE 18TH OF OCTOBER. IT WAS THE ONLY TIME I'VE

EVER

> FELT COMPLETELY HELPLESS AND AFRAID THAT I WOULD LOSE MY DAUGHTER.

IN A

> SENCE I HAVE LOST THE CHILD I BROUGHT INTO THE WORLD AND WAS GIVEN

A

> NEW CHILD ON THE 19TH OF OCTOBER. I GRIEVED FOR MY BEAUTIFUL BABY

AS

> SHE WAS AND NOW HAVE ACCEPTED WHO SHE HAS BECOME. IT HAS BEEN A

VERY

> HARD FAST ROAD WE HAVE TRAVELED IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS AND NOW

> COURTNEY HAS THE COCHLEAR IMPLANTS IN BOTH EARS AS OF DECEMBER

28,2007

> AND ON FEBRUARY 12,2008 WE'LL KNOW IF THERE WILL BE SOUND AGAIN.

I'M

> VERY EXCITED AND VERY HOPEFUL.OUR DR,DR.DANIEL CHOO OF CINCINNATI

> CHILDRENS HOSPITAL, I MUST SAY IS THE VERY BEST IN THIS AREA OF

> EXPERTISE AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO HIM FOR THE OPPORTUNITY HE HAS

> GIVEN COURTNEY. IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT I NEED TO KNOW PLEASE

FEEL

> FREE TO GIVE ME ADVISE. THE QUIET WORLD OF THE DEAF IS A NEW WAY OF

> LIFE TO ME AND I CERTAINLY CAN USE ALL THE MORAL SUPPORT I CAN

> GET.....THANK YOU,MICHELLE

>

---------------------------------

Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Search.

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much, ! I still can't believe it!

>

> , congrats on your return to work.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I hope this doesn't offend anyone, but it's very difficult for me to read

email typed in all caps. I will just delete those. I've even told close

personal friends that. Also, in the cyberworld, usually that means you're

yelling.

Nina

Re: Re: NEW TO LIFE OF HEARING IMPARED CHILD.....

> HI TED,

> I APPRECIATE THE VERY NICE RESPONSE.NO MY CAPS ARE ON BY CHOICE.

> I'M VERY HOPEFULL NOT MEANING TO SOUND DOWN IT'S JUST NOT BEEN AN EASY

> JOURNEY BUT WERE ALMOST THERE, WHERE WE NEED AND WANT TO BE.....

>

> MICHELLE

>

> " Ted F. " <ted.fletcher@...> wrote:

> Hello , I think your Caps lock is on :-)

>

> Welcome to the group and just remember that the loss of hearing is

> probably even more traumatic for your daughter. You did well to get

> bi-laterals so quickly for her. I think that you are going to be

> pleasantly surprised when s C.I.'s are turned on. Presumably

> she could hear normally before October 19th, so the sounds are still

> fresh in her brain. I wish both of you well and if you dont get the

> desired result straight away, be patient and trust your audiologist.

> Most of them know what they are doing :-).

>

> Ted F.

>

>

>>

>> MY NAME IS MICHELLE AND MY DAUGHTER IS COURTNEY WHO IS 7 YRS OLD

> SOON

>> TO BE 8. WE HAVE LEAD A LIFE OF EVERYTHING BEING AS NORMAL AS ANY

> LIFE

>> COULD BE UNTIL THE FAITHFUL DAY OF OCTOBER 19,2007. MY DAUGHTER WAS

>> DIAGNOSED W/BACTERIAL SPINAL MENINGITIS AND LOST HER HEARING I

> FIGURE

>> DURING THE NIGHT OF THE 18TH OF OCTOBER. IT WAS THE ONLY TIME I'VE

> EVER

>> FELT COMPLETELY HELPLESS AND AFRAID THAT I WOULD LOSE MY DAUGHTER.

> IN A

>> SENCE I HAVE LOST THE CHILD I BROUGHT INTO THE WORLD AND WAS GIVEN

> A

>> NEW CHILD ON THE 19TH OF OCTOBER. I GRIEVED FOR MY BEAUTIFUL BABY

> AS

>> SHE WAS AND NOW HAVE ACCEPTED WHO SHE HAS BECOME. IT HAS BEEN A

> VERY

>> HARD FAST ROAD WE HAVE TRAVELED IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS AND NOW

>> COURTNEY HAS THE COCHLEAR IMPLANTS IN BOTH EARS AS OF DECEMBER

> 28,2007

>> AND ON FEBRUARY 12,2008 WE'LL KNOW IF THERE WILL BE SOUND AGAIN.

> I'M

>> VERY EXCITED AND VERY HOPEFUL.OUR DR,DR.DANIEL CHOO OF CINCINNATI

>> CHILDRENS HOSPITAL, I MUST SAY IS THE VERY BEST IN THIS AREA OF

>> EXPERTISE AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO HIM FOR THE OPPORTUNITY HE HAS

>> GIVEN COURTNEY. IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT I NEED TO KNOW PLEASE

> FEEL

>> FREE TO GIVE ME ADVISE. THE QUIET WORLD OF THE DEAF IS A NEW WAY OF

>> LIFE TO ME AND I CERTAINLY CAN USE ALL THE MORAL SUPPORT I CAN

>> GET.....THANK YOU,MICHELLE

>>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with

> Search.

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

Once the implants are mapped correctly, will not be in the

silent world of the deaf. And you need to speak to her, and keep her

listening so she learns to use the implants.

It is tragic when something like this happens, but fortunately she was

implanted soon enough, and has auditory memory. So don't stop talking to

her as though she can hear, because she CAN with the implants on.

And even if she couldn't hear, it's always wise to remember that the

ONLY thing a deaf person can't do is hear.

[Guest guest]

Wow, , how wonderful that you are hearing so well that you can return

to court reporting. I remember when you first posted to the list -- totally

Deaf and having to wait on getting approval for your simultaneous bilateral

surgery. It is really encouraging that you are doing so well. Aren't you

taking part in some kind of research program? Your success really shows how

beneficial it is to have bilateral implants. I do very well with one, but

know I would do even better if I had two-- especially in noisy situations.

I'm just reluctant to give up my residual (ski slope) hearing in my

unimplanted ear.

Please keep us posted on how things go when you start back to work next

week. Your story is truly amazing!

Lynn

Fairhope, AL

Nucleus Freedom

Surgery date 9/6/06

Activation date 9/27/06

Re: NEW TO LIFE OF HEARING IMPARED CHILD.....

Oh , I'm so sorry to hear about what happened to your daughter.

That is so tragic. And I'm sure she has to be so scared and confused right

now. I'm sure it's been a very tough couple of months for you and your

family.

I haven't written on this list for a long time, but when I read your post

today, I just had to respond to give you hope. I'm 45 years old and had

normal hearing my whole life. Never any sorts of problems at all. As a

matter of fact, I'm a court stenographer and have been one for over 20

years, so " hearing " is what I do for a living. Well, last year I noticed I

just wasn't hearing as well as I had been and went and got my hearing

checked. That was in September. And 3 and a half months later I was

totally deaf in both ears. And when I say deaf, I mean completely, utterly

deaf. No sound at all, even at the highest volumes possible. I was

diagnosed with Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease. It was devastating for me. I

sincerely thought my life was over. I spent the next eight months in total

silence and in such a deep depression I couldn't even get out of bed. It

was awful. And so very isolating. I could no longer communicate with

people. So I decided to hide away in my room by myself and suffer alone. I

thought, what's the sense of going out anymore, I can't hear anyone and

can't participate in conversations, so I stayed in the safety of my house

because I couldn't cope with my deafness. It was truly the worst time in my

life.

Now, you're probably wondering why I just told you that sad, depressing

story. Well, the reason is this: I had simultaneous bilateral CI surgery

(which means I got two CI's at the same time) on August 21st and was

activated on September 12th. Well, never in a MILLION TRILLION years did I

ever imagine that my CI's would ever work this well!!! I am in absolute

amazement! And my doctors and audiologists are, too. I can hear sooooo

well with these things, !! And this is from a person who had normal

hearing her whole life!! And you want to know the most unbelievable part of

it all???? I am going back to work as a court stenographer next week!!!

Yes, a court stenographer, whose job it is to take down testimony VERBATIM

from witness and lawyers and judges! That's how well these things are

working.

So although I know first-hand what the past few months must have been like

for you and your daughters, PLEASE let her know that she's going to be okay

and she WILL hear again. Although your daughter is A LOT younger than me,

she's had normal hearing her whole life, just like me, and was implanted

very quickly after she went deaf, just like me, and these are VERY important

factors when considering CI's. The wires and connections and pathways in

her brain are all still there because she's only been deaf a very short

time, so I think she's gonna do tremendously well with her CI's. When I got

activated on September 12th, I could understand speech immediately. Now

granted, everyone sounded like munchkins from the Wizard of Oz, but I COULD

HEAR!!! Then over the next four months, the sound gradually got better and

better, until today, everybody sounds pretty much like they used to sound.

It's truly amazing technology, and just reassure your daughter that she's

going to be fine. I know she must have had a very tough couple of months,

but the hard part is over now and she only has good things to look forward

to.

Sorry this was so long, but I just felt compelled to answer your post. I

just feel for your daughter so much and I want her to know that she won't

have to live a life of silence for much longer.

Please feel free to email me personally if you'd like, or if your daughter

has ANY questions at all she wants to ask, I'd love to answer her.

Please take care and know that you made the right decision and your daughter

is gonna have a HUGE smile on her face very soon.

All my best to you and your family,