Open for Business

Date: July 21, 2003.
So? I get a cochlear implant.
The victim: my right ear.
33 years after I was diagnosed with a profound hearing loss, I’m taking a step towards to hearing better. My hearing aids have been good to me. I could hear music, voices, rain, dogs barking, and babies crying. After much research and talking with the doctor, I have learned the cochlear implant is supposed to help me hear better. I can’t imagine what that means because I think I can hear a lot of sounds. The only thing I can’t do, and that’s the holy grail, is hear what people say without lipreading (talking on the phone, for example).
The cochlear implant is not a guarantee I’ll be able to talk on the phone. I might be able to or I might not. It could take six months or one year. Who knows. There are many variables when it comes to figuring out how much a person will benefit from a coclear implant.
On July 1, I was flabbergasted when I realized it was only three weeks to the surgery. I began to panic and get cold feet. It’s now one week away and I’m nervous. I’m about to embark on a life-changing experience… for the good, I hope.

5 comments

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  1. It’s been an adventuresome year for you! I hope the surgery goes off without a hitch and it’s all you were hoping for. 🙂

    • Scott on July 17, 2003 at 3:58 pm
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    You know my opinion. Stay tough, it will be worth it.

    • debby on July 18, 2003 at 3:01 pm
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    oh my god meryl
    i didn’t know all this stuff was going on
    what an unbelievable opportunity for you but a scary one too
    i loved reading all this stuff and your thoughts yuou are so profound and so cute and so normal but so honest at the same time
    i cant wait to see how it goes, i just know it will be wonderful and you will be great — and before long we won’t be able to get you off the phone
    anyhow, i;m really proud of you and really thank you for keeping me on your short list and i wanna know the progress
    i will call your mom and dad to see whats going on
    deb
    i just know it is going to be fabulous

  2. Sorry I’m just getting over here, but I wanted to tell you how excited I am for you and how much you’re in my thoughts right now!

    • Theron on June 17, 2004 at 1:48 am
    • Reply

    It sounds like you’re really looking forward to this. It is a bionic ear, if it works! And I hope it does!
    If it does not knock your socks off, well, it was a thing you were trying. Not a thing you were sure of. And what would you do, absent a sure thing … not try? Nah!
    I have moderate hearing loss due to a swollen adenoid. I might not regain all my hearing after that’s cleared up. If there is much background noise I am ostensibly deaf for that period of time.
    Doesn’t bother me one bit. I have also had constant tinnitus in both ears some years now. I don’t think that’s a particularly big deal, either.
    Because I have met men with no feet any number of times, reminding me to be glad of my shoes.
    I also noted all those men were cheerful that they could go about their business at all, so I followed suit.
    Best regards,
    Theron

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