Icy!

Yup, yup.. Guess what, my class for tomorrow has cancelled. But I still have to drive up to teach MY class then go home. My teacher slipped on icy today at his home. And he hurt his back from fall. I guess it’s very interesting to see how the people react and how they handle icy weather. I talked with Bishop (he is our home teacher because nobody wanted to drive an hour to our apartment..) He told me that three years ago they had terrible icy weather. The streets were thick with icy. It was impossible to drive. Everyone had to stay home. Wow! That bad, uh? Now I’m scared of icy! Sheese. Those pictures are not from today. I took those picture when I was in New York for Christmas. I got there it was ICY and FREEZING. Everything frozen. But funny, in a few days, ALL disappeared. I was happy to take pictures because that day it disappeared and there were no more icy on those plants. Amazing how the warm weather can make it disappear really FAST.

Now let’s look at excited moment.....

Well, I forgot to add excited news that I have learned from my parents. My parents decided to fly here to join me for activate on February 13th. It will be lot of fun having my parents with me on the special day. Looked at the countdown and I have 15 days left for activate! 14 days to pick up my parents. That reminds me to email my dad to give me the information what time to pick them up from the Baltimore airport.

Well, I’m bored. The apartment is clean. I have done my work. Well, I should have done other things. True, but why am I sitting front of the computer?! Oh right, I’m waiting for one interpreter to get online. That is my second jobs of three. Yay for me. (Rolling eyes)

I guess I better go before all of the words become lost.

Bored

I cannot believe that my classes were cancelled because of weather. Well, one of my class was cancelled and I had to cancelled my ASL class because of weather. Guess what caused to cancelled? Snow. But we only got about one inch so far! The news said we probably will get around 1-3 inches and get some more overnight plus will become icy. The question is why they cancelled school and classes when it’s only barely one inches while in Utah they never cancelled when they got more than 8 or 12 inches of snow?! Well, I’m extremely nervous about tomorrow morning because I have to get up early and leave here at 7am to get there before 8am, my class starts. The problem is how icy it would gets? Will the school cancel again? I will laugh if they didn’t cancel when its’ really bad icy. Maryland history for weather is icy. I’m hoping we will not get bad icy! I hate driving in icy. :S Scary thoughts.

Well, you must wondering about those pictures. Yes, I made them today. I wanted to do something new hobby. I decided to try out. Well, that thing didn’t look bad for first time, eh? I realized it’s difficult to keep the stuff stay when I glued on the stuff. My next project will be flat! It would be much easier and will not slipping down while glue to attach on the thing. Umm now I’m thinking what project would I want to make? UMMMMM.. Decisions! Decisions! Ugh.

I guess that’s it for today. I know it sounds bored but it’s how it went for me when the classes were cancelled.

Oh I can’t believe I forgot to add the important stuff! I went back to see Dr. Della Santia for follow up since the surgery last Thursday. That was very weird experience. No, it’s not about my doctor. It’s about an interpreter! Really, I never request for an interpreter for this appointment. At first Annie and I arrived at the hospital. We checked in and they were ready for us.. (THAT FAST! I just sit down but called us right away!!!) We went in the room. Of course, we ended up waiting for Dr. Della Santina to come in. A few minutes later, the nurse said the interpreter is here. I was puzzled and looked at Annie. Both of us got lost at that point.

The interpreter came in and sit down. She looked at us. She stared at me for awhile with awkward feeling. I had to introduce ourselves. Then she asked me why I’m here. I was like uh? I’m here for follow up with doctor. She again asked me why? That moment I wanted to said shut up. But I didn’t and told her that I just had a surgery last Monday. My doctor wanted to see how it went. The interpreter won’t let me go without answer. She was stubborn and asked why surgery. I simple blunt cochlear implant. THAT silent her for a few minutes. Somehow the answer surprised her.

I thought we are in peace but WRONG! She started blah about her experiences about having heart surgery, blah blah blah blah until the doctor comes in. So doctor asked me how I was doing. Of course, I gave a honest answer--I’m GOOD! No dizzy. No problem so far from the surgery. I had no problem with balance. He seems happy to hear the news. But one thing I was starting to get frustrated. The interpreter didn’t stand up and interpret close to the doctor. The doctor was stand on the left while she was sitting on the chair --way right! I had hard time to watch her while look at the doctor.
The doctor said he need to take some stiches off. He do his things and talk. The problem is that I cannot turn my head to see the interpreter. I had hard time to carry the conversation with doctor.

Well, the follow up was very SHORT. He was happy with results. He asked me to tell Steve to update with Dr. Della Santina. :D After we left the room, both of us agreed that I do not want to ask for interpreter! :S Annie will interpreter for active on February 13th while my parents with me!

Snow, Snow!

Wow, it’s really snowing outside! I thought we might never get some snow here. I know we will have some but not much as in Utah.

Annie and I decided to go walking as our exercise. I got dressed and checked outside how cold it could be. I was surprised to see white everywhere and it’s snowing! We don’t let the snow stop us from walking. We dressed up really well to keep ourselves warm. It was fun doing that. I had to make sure my head is well covered since it’s still healing from the surgery. I just wanted to get out of apartment because I’m tired of laying on the bed or couch. I cannot lay flat anyway. You know why I wanted to get out even it’s snowing!

I feel GREAT after walk in snow. Well, not really. It stopped shortly after we walk. I feel so good being outside and have fresh air. Whew! I feel alive at that moment. :D

Caught!

I can’t believe this!

Wow! You won't believe what I did a few minutes ago! I spotted a tiny mouse ran away from the kitchen to the area near the front door. I was like OH NO! You cannot run away from me! You need to get out of here! I told Annie I spotted a mouse! I ordered her to get a cup while my eyes stare at the mouse. Actually I think my eye balls actually come out of my skull. She gave me a cup and asked her to blocked the mouse that the mouse will not escape from us. The mouse was hiding back of tiny television that I was going to threw away (it was sitting there for months!)

So Annie grabbed a frame from the floor to block the mouse while I tried to put a cup to catch the mouse. SUDDENLY the mouse was too smart for that and started to run! Annie was too clever for that so blocked so quickly but umm umm umm how to say that....almost killed that mouse by squeezed the mouse too hard. I can see that poor mouse's legs kicking so hard as trying to escape! Lucky, Annie tried to push the mouse toward while same time I tried to get mouse in the cup. (Of course, slam to trap the mouse). We were successful caught the mouse. Okay, what's next? Annie grabbed the CD case and I slide the CD case under the cup. I can feel I was hitting one of feet or hand or tail, I don't know... Poor mouse! I walked as carrying the CD case with cup while the mouse is inside of the cup. I walked outside to threw the poor mouse away to escape for life. I feel sorry because it's so COLD outside but the mouse shouldn't be in our apartment in first place!

It made me sniffing and knew it was silly! But this morning Annie and I was driving on the highway and saw two dead deers (just hit by a car or two). Both deers were dead on the highway and there were three police cars and one car with broken front bumper---that was enough to made me CRY like a baby. I don't know why but felt awful for those deers. I know we were cruel to the animals but animals can be clueless sometimes. Accidents are not funny sometimes. :S

Okay, let’s focus happy thoughts. A few minutes ago, I was sitting and bored. I was touching my shave spot and decided to find the magnet. Because for several days, I couldn't find where the magnet is on my back head. Annie thought Missy's advice was great idea. I thought that was stupid because I did not want to damage my $25,000 stuff. Really, I did not want to do that because I was scared that another magnet would pull the magnet away from my skull. (It was only four days from surgery day) Annie won and tried to find light and small magnet or metal to find where the magnet is on my head. Well, she tried small metal and nothing happened. She decided that we need to use the magnet and found thin almost flat magnet from the refrigerator. Ah! She found it and it worked but opposite. It pushed away from my magnet. Okay, now both of us know where it is.

Anyway I was playing to find the magnet and realized I CAN feel where the magnet is! I guess it was swollen due to the surgery. It must have swollen down.. I was able to feel where the magnet is--interesting it's not big and thick. Good thing.. :D

Good news, my taste finally starting to kick up slowly, not completed but better. :D I guess my excited is over now.

Oh darn, my glasses starting to bother where the sore is. Ugh! I hope it will get tough soon!!

Eww, I just thinking of poor mouse! Well, guess what? We DO have more mouse in our apartment. Annie thinks it’s inside of the wall. She can’t figure where the sounds come from. Sighs. I hope we won’t spot any mouse tiny poops around or see running away from us.

Grateful for Tongue Buds

Ugh, this morning was first time to take a shower instead a bath to wash my hair. It was a bit difficult to move my head back. But it was not that awful as I thought it would be. That's okay, I can handle this. I just hope that everyday it would improve..

Ugh, I'm sick of tasteless! After the surgery, my taste messed up. I couldn't taste anything but plain. However I only can taste very little such as spicy or sweet something like that. Tongue buds are not working right. I hope it will get back normal FAST. I had that problem my past surgery but this one was worse. It's almost like I burned my tongue but it wasn't. Weird feeling. At least I'm happy it didn't mixed up my smells. I can smell just fine. Just tasteless..

That was a bit sad because I cannot able to enjoy the food when I'm eating. It's nothing exciting to taste yummy pie or pasta or candies. I feel like I'm wasting good food! :S
Well, I'm doing good so far. I only took medicine in the morning and before bed. Not bad. (Oh not strong medicine, just IB..) I guess I better go back to work to do such as syllabus etc.. Blah.

Better be grateful for our tongue buds that gives us a great taste!

Recovery

That's me. I was taking a short nap. Everything worn me out. You can see a little red on my face. I had a little fever but not awful. I had to watch for my fever. Annie had to go to the store to buy a good ear temperature to test my fever. So far I haven't gone over 99. That's good news.

So finally I was able to clean up bloody, dry, etc. Now it's CLEAN and put cream on it to prevent the inflection. It looked much better than second picture, right?

I finally took the cup off on my left ear. Gosh, it felt much better and give a fresh air to my poor squished ear! Wow, honestly when I see the pictures that Annie took has surprised me. I imagined what it looked like---completed different than I thought it would be. My ear is still numb and stiff. I'm sure it will takes a few days to heal. One thing I'm happy to know that I can wear my glasses and sleep without the cup for night.

I had quite struggle to take ewww wax or sticky thing off from my hair. I was not able to get it all off completed but much better than it was. I do feel the pressure on my ear. I guess it's numb.
I guess I'm a bit better than yesterday and hoping will be much better tomorrow than today. So far I had several mini fever but not awful. Nothing serious or dangerous has happened.

I told Annie that I was sort of happy that Dr. Shelton didn't perform surgery on me. I think Dr. Della Santina did wonderful job. And I'm happy that it didn't work out first time. This time is just perfect timing and everything worked out pretty good.

Oh that's right, I need to add a link for you to check out on Dr. Della Santina. He might look nerd man but he is very sweet man.

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/OTOLARYNGOLOGY/della.html

Check him out. Noticed that he has PhD and MD as well.. Interesting uh? And look at his clinical interests and research interests.. I was trying to tell mom when I visited him and he tested me many different things that related to balance. Clever.

Well, I think that's it for now. I hope I can sleep better tonight but still need to sleep with two or three pillows. Darn. Still feel stiff neck (muscles). Don't worry it's not meningitis.

You see...You cannot see anything from my head, can you? I can’t. :D That’s a great news! Oh my, I FEEL MUCH BETTER after a bath. Whew.

Is It Really Happening?

Okay.. Remember, this journal that I have wrote to my family. You’ll see the different fonts and you know why. I did fix some but not much...just fix the mistake or add some more information. :D

I didn't get very good sleep last night. I kept waking up every hour for different reasons. I woke up for pee.. water.. move around.. blah. I slept on airbed in the livingroom so I can watch t.v. I had to put about four pillows under me. I have to keep my head above than my chest for two weeks. Ugh!

Funny story but sad. Before I leave the hospital, I was about to get dressed. Everyone left to do their duties especially one new nurse with me to help me dressed while Annie left to get car and get me. Before Annie leaves, the nurse asked me how I'm feeling right now. I told her my ear hurts. So the nurse gave me one medicine and said it's oxycodone. Wow, it's small white medicine so I took it.

Annie got me in car and left. I was resting. My ear starting to throbbing..hurt.. I was hoping the medicine will work soon! We arrived home and still hurts. I was like..wow the numb is fading. I cannot take the medicine until specific time. So I waited until around 11pm to take oxycodone and promethazine (to prevent nausea). Annie is giving me the medicine (she is boss with medicine and keep track to make sure not overdose or forget to take one medicine cedadroxil (antibiotic).

Annie came and opened her mouth--"You won't believe this..the nurse gave you promethazine instead oxycodone!! That's why you still feel pains since you left the hospital!!" No wonder!! So I took two medicine of oxycodone to help stop the pains. I went bed and two hours later..wow that stuff does work! Finally!! But I only can take oxycodone eight pills a day..THAT'S ALL!

Whew, they did not rip the hairs out of my arm when they removed the IV. But I had to removed a masking tape off..THAT HURTS. OH OH FUNNY.. The nurse put the masking tape on my arm and it wouldn't stay on. She just blunt oh you have hairy arms! Oh brother.. I think they don't need to put needle more than just IV. They put anesthesia in the same tube as IV. And they put about three blood pressure cuffs. One on my right arm, one on calf, and one on thigh. Legs thing.. I HATE THAT!

Seriously they have FANCY operation room! MUCH FANCIER than I had before in Utah. My mouth fell on the floor when I entered the operation room. There were so many machines around the bed. White almost everything except some machines. Also I saw a television front of my bed. They are preparing little camera that will goes in my head. Wow.. Everything went so fast.. When I get on the bed, they put EKG on me blah blah blah put on me stuff.. Mary, one of nurses, put anesthesia in my tube. And put oxygen mask but it was weird.. so they all wait for me to go bye.. Funny because two nurses and assistance were standing front of me and waiting.. Mary was nice nurse.. She patted me and smooth me to calm me down. My heart must pounding so big and loud! I remember I started to feel weird--BANG! That's it. I cannot remember how I shut my eyes! Like I was drop dead. (When I get on that bed, I was thinking.. that's it. I'm really HERE.. I can't believe this. Is it really happening to me? It was unbelievable moment..I felt like I was dreaming..)

I woke up..of course.. confused but much better than past surgery because I thought I was in car accident. :D This one I was confused with temperature and throat.

About eating...you won't believe this. I drank ginger ale at hospital to take a medicine. Hahaha, amazing it didn't make me nausea. I guess I didn't feel because I took TWO nausea medicine in less than an hour!! Oops, but that's okay!! I don't like the feeling of nausea anyway... When I got home, I ate ice pop and it taste funny. I even ate a few of cracker. :D Amazing uh? Of course, I had to chew careful because when my jaws move, it hurts a bit (ear).

This morning I was READY to eat my REAL BREAKFAST!! Yay!! YUMMY... Oh the anesthesiologist told me that I can eat anything that night when I get home except fried or spicy. He even said pizza, hamburger, etc! :D Mom, remember I ate pizza next day? (from preview surgery with my elbow) :D

The anesthesiologist has STRONG accent! When he came to meet me and explain how it works before the surgery. The interpreter, Carol, got up and ready to interpret but her facial expression was puzzled and tried to understand him! She said he has strong accent. His name is Akos Kalmar. He got paged and had to leave for a few minutes. Carol and Annie started to discuss where he from. Carol guessed he was from Germany but Annie guessed Czech. Annie is funny because she took her iphone out of her purse and google on him!! :D She found him that he attended Budapest University! No wonder... :D I told Carol what Annie has told me. She laughed.. :D That was funny. Dr. Kalmar was so nice. He was trying to gesture with me to communicate. He even knelt down to level with my eyes. Wow, nice to do that. Dr. Della Santina did that too even his assistance too.

I'm serious ALL of staffs there were so friendly and kindly. I suddenly feel so comfortable even I was very nervous. :D

Missy, sweatshirt that she gave me for Christmas was worth of it. :D I wore it after the surgery. It's perfect sweatshirt because it's thin and light also easy to access to put on me instead over my head. I post that (above) picture to show you the prove. :D

Oh I remember...Annie and I got there around 11:20am which is very early. But after we paid the clerk and signed some forms. The interpreter was here early as well. I thought we would sit in the lobby and wait.. NO! After I signed the paper and they said they are ready for me to go in and change clothes and put IV in. Wow.. that was FAST! That was good but I had to wait awhile in the pre-op area while IV. There were nurses blah blah came to me. Whew. I'm glad that I did not have to wait much longer than past surgery! Everything was on time.. dots. :D

OH I just read Missy's question and almost forget to answer that question.. Will it bleed a lot? I don't think so. Dr. Della Santina said it might drain and some bleed but not much. Dr. Della Santina put packing inside and outside of my ear (canal). One inside will fade itself. But not outside, he will take it out next Thursday when I came to see him for check up.

I’m glad to know that I do not have to go to work or school until 26th. That would give me two weeks to recuperate. :D Oh that’s right I do have a meeting this Thursday. I don’t know about that yet. Annie will have to drive me because I cannot drive while I take oxycodone. :S

Umm oh cow I gave you lot of information!!! I guess that’s it as what I can think of. It’s about three pages! Geez, sorry if I have put you sleep! :D

Missy asked me when I can wash my hair. The question is when can I wash my hair. I looked at the paper and it said I can wash my hair after 48 hours from the surgery. Means I can wash my hair tomorrow night. I'm looking forward to it! Because I feel yucky, itchy, and grossy. :D

So far I have been laying on the bed to be still and not move my head very much. It hurts if I move rotate. I feel like tag muscle near my ear. If I stay up like stand too long, then I can feel red start to fill up my head. A bit dizzy..whew! Gotta to lay.. :D Wow tomorrow night I'll find out what my head look like.. It'll be weird to see that--that is my head--computer implant in my ear as well the magnet inside of my head. If anyone want to see grossy pictures, then I'll be happy to post for you tomorrow night. So keep your eyes open. :D

Is it amazing to see that I’m up and doing a long journal the next day from the surgery?! Or am I insane? But it shows that I’m fine. :D It works as charming.

The Surgery

Yes, I'm still alive. Does that picture looked happy or scary? I do not know what to react that picture because I KNOW how feel at that moment!

I was wacky nervous and time was ticking. Actually I was a bit uncomfortable. Maybe it’s wrong to use uncomfortable. Let me try my best to explain why I’m “uncomfortable” at that time. When I arrived at the hospital, St. Johns Hopkins, I was ready right away to go in to change my clothes into famous hospital clothes. And the nurse, Maria, gave me strange long white socks. That long white socks has one big hole and one small hole. It’s obviously small hole goes to feet. Maria said put those on. So I did but surprisely how hard to put those ON because those socks were so tight! I felt like I’m too fat for those socks! But it fits and that socks goes from feet to almost top of my hips. One thing was strange because I was sit in one of booth and there were several booths as well for the patients who ready for surgery. This floor (basement of a huge building with uhh I think 12 floors) was for surgery only. So when people were resting and waiting for their turn to go in operation room. I noticed that they are not wearing the same socks I’m wearing. Am I only one wearing this socks? I wondered why.. Maybe their surgery is not complex as mine? Short surgery? I’m so curious! Oh well, I won’t know for sure. :D



Okay, I’m going to paste some of my journal that I wrote to my family. Save my hands. :D

Right now it's almost 9:40pm and I'm sitting up on the couch and feeling pains in my left ear. Of course, the medicine is starting to fade. (I think the shot for numb start to fade as well.) I cannot take the medicine until soon. I am thinking to wait a bit longer so I can take another medicine to prevent feeling nausea. The painkiller might make me feel nausea because basically it's illegal. :D Oxycodone! Well, I hope it will help less pain in my ear. I guess I better stop and rest. My ear is starting to throbbing. :S

Ugh, I cannot lay to sleep. I have to keep my body elevated. :S Let's see how much I can get sleep overnight! I hope I can get lot of sleep so Annie can sleep through the night as well.

That’s it for today. Whew! Wait for next day with full of details.

My Decision

I was on the top of the fence as trying to make up my decision to tell my news or not. I knew the topic was sensitive (the topic is related to cochlear implant) for some of people. I was careful who I trust etc. I realized this blog about me, not about them. I was asking the question myself many times--am I hiding? Am I embarrassed? Am I trying to prove something? Those questions seems worthless to answer because it’s my life and decision. I made a decision. My body is mine. I have prayed about it. Now I’m going to stand what I do is my decision. I’m happy what I have made and felt good about it. Now you know why I haven’t update my blog for awhile.

The difficult decision is getting cochlear implant. Actually the waiting is almost over! Yes, I’m getting cochlear implant this Monday afternoon. And yes, it’s a big decision and a big step for me to take in the future. Well, is it a good news, eh? I’ll tell you a story. I think you’ll need to sit down for this.

I was not excited about cochlear implant when I was young even I was in college. Haha. I don’t think I need one because I have a hearing aid. After mission, I started to complain that my hearing aid did not help much as I remember before my mission. I got frustrated because I was not able to hear many things as I usually listen movie or television.

One day I was teaching ASL class and we were discussing about cochlear implant. I knew I had to study more about cochlear implant before I teach my students. For some reason I got curious about cochlear implant because I was not familiar with it. All I knew that Deaf Community strongly against cochlear implant. They would put a fist to push it out from the community. I even met some deaf people who hated it. (They were forced to get cochlear implant when they were young.) I don’t like the idea of being force. Ignore that part because I’m not going to go there part. So I wanted to learn more about cochlear implant so I can share with my class with right information (without fake or change stories). Annie was perfect person to talk with because she was in Speech-Language Therapy major. She had to learn many things including cochlear implant, blah. I decided to ask her about cochlear implant. She showed me videos, websites, and other many things. I have learned so much from it. One specific story, I couldn’t remember which one, made me drop several tears from my eyes.

It didn’t change my mind overnight. I wanted to study more about cochlear implant and how it works. Somehow I was searching to see if there is any Deaf adult who got cochlear implant. It was interesting because there were not many. I decided to step back and cool it.

A few months later, cochlear implant kept stuck in my head. I kept thinking what if cochlear implant will help me much better than my currently hearing aid. It would be GREAT not having mold stuck in my ear. Mold always bother me so much. What if I like cochlear implant better than hearing aid? I started getting mixed feeling about cochlear implant but knew it was impossible to get one since I had no insurance.

I gave up so easily and put cochlear implant aside for several months. I moved to last apartment in Provo before moved to Maryland. Well, guess what...cochlear implant popped again. I started get anxiety and wanted to know what if. All was about what if. By Christmas, Annie was great support about that. She helped me to find insurance. (I still need insurance, not because I want to use for cochlear implant. I need for other reasons as well.) Finally I got one. They told me that I cannot get cochlear implant until one year because of pre-existing. I think I have misspelled that one. I’m sure you all know what I’m talking, right? So I thought that’s it. I’m getting one. Suddenly my exciting increases, and I knew I gotta to try it. I’ll have to see what it can do for me.

I met the doctor, Dr. Shelton. I was not impressed with him. He deflated (it’s perfect to sign in ASL, but English?! Why there are no perfect word for it?!) me and told me that I will not like it. It is worthless for me to get one. He put no effort to make conversation but said he was willing to do for me. He said he will go for right ear. I disagree with him about putting cochlear implant on my right ear. He was not happy to talk with me. Oh he asked me if I can talk and don’t need interpreter. I told him I really need interpreter for clear communication. He was not impressed with that. What heck is he thinking?! After I left I was disappointed how he behaved and how he thinks how I would ended up after getting cochlear implant. He didn’t even discussed why put on right ear. He didn’t give me chance to explain why I wanted to do left instead right. That’s it. I saw him for about 10-15 minutes flat. GRRRR!

Anyway, I decided to go for it since I have heard that Dr. Shelton was best surgeon. I trust and still want to get cochlear implant. So my surgery was set on April 3rd, 2008. Everything was set and ready for me. The time closer and it gets me confused and nervous. Of course, I started to feel doubts. All in my head said, what if’s. But I was afraid to step back or step forward. I was like...frozen statue. I decided to do nothing and let it go as flow.

Last March second weekend, they called me and told me that I cannot get cochlear implant because my insurance refused cover for it. You won’t believe how I reacted to that. I was CRASHED. I was depressed for over two weeks. I thought why everything leads me to this? Why is it happening to me? Am I supposed not to get one? Maybe it’s not right for me. I felt I was on the beam for some reason! That react surprised me. I thought I might feel relief, but it went opposite.

After that I thought that’s it. I better snap out of it and focus my life. I dropped it everything and focus my life by moving to Maryland and start school. After summer classes, I had a month break. Suddenly cochlear implant popped in my head. I did not want to go through long battle with insurance and other things. I decide to ignored it. It started to nagging me in my head. A few days later, I gave up and go for it. I had to transferred because my Utah insurance was useless in Maryland. Darn. But that was OKAY because I got an wonderful insurance.

I went to meet doctors and somehow it went FAST than I could remember! I don’t have to wait for a year. I made first appointment was on October 1st to meet Audiology for tests to make sure I’m candidate for cochlear implant. It was interesting to see how strict they were about having an insurance that it WILL cover for it. I had to call my insurance and ask them if they are going to cover my cochlear implant. To my surprised, they said they will cover for it. Well, really I called and talked with one rude woman. The woman said no, they will NOT pay for it. I was a bit GRR because she was very rude. I told Annie when she got home from work. Annie said something is not right, so she called for me. To my surprised, Annie said the insurance will pay for it. I was like UH? Why that woman who talked with me told me no?! Annie talked with different woman and she was very nice to Annie. That was very strange. I started to wondering but decided not to think about it too much.

I made an appointment in no time. I met audiology, Steve. Steve was very nice, MUCH NICER than Dr. Shelton. Of course, Steve is not a doctor who will preform the surgery on me. Anyway, Steve talked and discussed with me. He made sure I understand how it works with cochlear implant. He asked me several questions about cochlear implant and I had no problem answered his questions. He was very surprised how well I’m aware of cochlear implant and how it would work for me as Deaf adult (different than children). He was very impressed with me and told me that lot of parents does not do their homework to research before make a decision to give cochlear implant their their children. Steve had to explain the parents how it works and what risks it can be. Steve told me that I’m required to meet Psychology to make sure I’m good not insane, I guess. Of course, I passed that part! Anyway, back to Steve. He asked me which ear I would like to put cochlear implant in. I told him I want to do left instead right. He asked me why I wanted left. I explained why I want to do left is because my left ear has more capability than right has. Left ear, I was able to recognize some levels of sounds like high and low. Able to recognize many things such as door bell, dog barking, voices, blah blah. My right ear sounds like one level--no variety of levels. Steve was, again, impressed and said he agreed with me. He also added that he usually suggest to do worst but for my case, my decision was right choice. I was beamed by his comments. The appointment was about an hour and half! It was a big different between 10-15 minutes with Dr. Shelton.

I had to meet three different people--individual appointments. The last appointment was to meet my doctor, Dr. Della Santina. He is the one who will preform on me. The first time I met him, he looked nerd. He tested me lot of weird things. I don’t know how to describe what he has done to me. I knew he was very careful and make sure I’m able to go through cochlear implant or the surgery itself. He asked me lot of questions according to balance. He said it’s very important that I have balance. He explained that he might drill and hit the umm what it called...oh well, it might make me dizzy for awhile. Before I left the office, he asked me which ear. Of course, I told left. He asked me the same question as Steve asked me before. I explained to him why I think left is best choice. His head nodded! He AGREED with me! He said it’s good reasonable to do left and able to successful with cochlear implant than right. I do not want have risk to go with right, maybe it won’t work on me. So I was very happy. Of course, he didn’t confirmed that I can get cochlear implant. He said he had to see the MRI before give his confirm answer. He left the room. I had to wait for a few minutes then doctor came back and asked me to follow him to the x-ray room (well more likely hall). He showed me--my MRI on light wall. He said he can see my nerve on both ears. He said that nerve canal blah. He announced that he is able to do perform surgery. Yes, I’m able to get cochlear implant! That was a GREAT news. I left the hospital with swollen heart! I was so happy with results. I realized that’s it! I’m supposed to get cochlear implant HERE, not in Utah. Perhaps the time is RIGHT for me. In Utah, we all (Mom and Annie) think that I was not ready at that moment. Maybe Heavenly Father knew it’s not right time.

Well, Heavenly Father knows me better. I’m so happy that I waited and get excellent experiences with all people I met at the hospital. I feel confidence to get my cochlear implant.

Well, I ended up will have a surgery on January 12th. They said if I haven’t hear from my insurance before New Year, then that’s it. It’s January 8th. Yup, that’s it! For first time, I felt right to get Cochlear Implant. This place is right for me. Those people were AWESOME. I loved them. Well, that’s my story why I wanted to get Cochlear Implant. It might sound bold but same time it’s a blessing for me.

Of course, I’ll keep you update after the surgery. My cochlear implant will be active on February 13th. Oh that sounds scary since it’s on Friday and 13th!