Josephine and I had an opportunity yesterday to meet with Greg White -the Cochlear Americas Engagement manager for our area. Greg's job is to help implantees and candidate implantees by answering questions and providing resources to them. The thing that made the biggest impact for Josephine was that Greg himself has two Cochlear Implants. Being able to talk to someone who had been through the process and was able to share his journey was such a huge help. Now instead of fearing that I will turn into some type of cyborg, she has seen what the results *could* be. Having that personal touch and not having to rely on the RPOI (the Random People Of the Internet) for information has helped her to have a more positive outlook.
My youngest son was also able to join us when he got out of school for the day, and he had one great question: "How does it all work?" Greg was able to draw some pictures that showed how hearing worked, explained how my current hearing aid helps (and why it's not helping so well now), and finally how a Cochlear Implant works. He also did a great job explaining how things will be after getting the implant (spoiler: it won't be "oh my goodness, I can hear and understand everything 100%" on the first day). I appreciated one of Josephine's questions greatly: "what can we do to help?" along with Greg's reply "be patient with him."
Meeting with Greg has been one of the highlights of the process so far. Yes, I have perused the various Internet resources/forums/web sites, but there's nothing like talking to a person face-to-face who has gone through the whole thing himself. We have also gotten the name of a volunteer who has implants from Cochlear - we just haven't been able to get together with her and her husband yet, but that's definitely in the cards.
Let me sign off with two short thoughts:
26 days to go!
Thanks, Greg - you made our day!
My youngest son was also able to join us when he got out of school for the day, and he had one great question: "How does it all work?" Greg was able to draw some pictures that showed how hearing worked, explained how my current hearing aid helps (and why it's not helping so well now), and finally how a Cochlear Implant works. He also did a great job explaining how things will be after getting the implant (spoiler: it won't be "oh my goodness, I can hear and understand everything 100%" on the first day). I appreciated one of Josephine's questions greatly: "what can we do to help?" along with Greg's reply "be patient with him."
Meeting with Greg has been one of the highlights of the process so far. Yes, I have perused the various Internet resources/forums/web sites, but there's nothing like talking to a person face-to-face who has gone through the whole thing himself. We have also gotten the name of a volunteer who has implants from Cochlear - we just haven't been able to get together with her and her husband yet, but that's definitely in the cards.
Let me sign off with two short thoughts:
26 days to go!
Thanks, Greg - you made our day!