One more week

Hi Everyone,
Well, just about one week now! Surgery has been moved up..we will arrive at the hospital at 9:30 and Michelle should be awake around 1:00. Surgery is scheduled for 11:00. She's got a little cold...probably what Brad had in SLO. Hope that won't stop the surgery.

She's anxious...understandably...aren't we all. It'll be nice to have the surgery out of the way..even though the long wait will be the 4 weeks until "hook up."

It's getting closer...

Just returned from four days in SLO (my alma mater)--had great time at the beach and visiting my nephew Kirk and Cal Poly. Michelle's already thinking she needs to be a mustang! I agree!

Came home to a packet from the surgery center....we are all set for a 12:00 surgery on the 4th. Could be at 10:00...the 10:00 patient is ill...time will tell.

Pre-ops here in Chico, one at the hospital, and one in San Ramon...then the surgery, then back to San Ramon 5 days after surgery for the post-op. I remember doing all this ten years ago..it's all coming back...including the release we have to sign that says there is that outside possibility nerve stimulation won't work. Have to just think positive.

Michelle is, like she said, I think, both nervous and excited. So am I.

I keep forgetting about the reality of the month delay between surgery and "activation."
She won't get to try out the new implant for four weeks--the incision has to be completely healed. That wait will be longer than this wait for surgery...but not quite so nerve-wracking..

April and May will be months of extra miles on the van, I think!

Two Weeks From Today....

It is two weeks away from my surgery. Kind of excited and nervous at the same time. I will miss school for two days. Can't swim for one month. Out of PE for two weeks. Mom is wondering about the other kids getting a CI because the surgeon does five a day. Won't get "hooked up" until a month later. Bye for now.

Brown it is

Michelle has decided on brown. A good choice, I think. Had a call from the surgeon's office today..it's real! Pre-op here in Chico with Michelle's pediatrician next week, and then pre-op at the surgeon's office on the 3rd...surgery on the 4th. We don't have a surgery time yet. Dr. Stidham does SIX a day--impressive!

3 weeks out

Is it really possible that April 4th is only 3 weeks away? I talked with the surgery scheduler this week and although we are still waiting on insurance approval, she does have Michelle on the calendar. We will hopefully do the pre-op the day before, rather than having to make a trip down earlier in the week. That will make it a little easier on Michelle.

The audiologist from Children's Hospital called today to ask what color Michelle wanted: silver, beige or brown. I immediately said, "Silver," since that's what she currently has, but then it dawned on me...she should be making these decisions! So we talked and she has the weekend to decide. Brown would match her hair best...but if you think about it, she can't really see what it looks like. In fact, she's seen herself in pictures and says, "Oh, that's what it looks like!" Sometimes I think she forgets she even has it on..which is great!

We also had to make some decisions regarding batteries. I found myself unable to make educated decisions, so I told the audiologist we'd call back on Monday to give them our final decision on color and all!

This is making it seem very real!

Doctor's Appointment

Michelle and I drove to San Ramon the night before our doctor's appointment and spent a wonderful evening with Michelle's cousin, aunt, and uncle. Lucky us! The next morning, we met with the new surgeon (the original surgeon retired a few years back!) and we really liked her: Dr. Stidham. She was very supportive of our decision to move forward with a 2nd implant for Michelle. Within two days of our appointment with her, Danielle Knowlton, the audiologist at CHO (Children's Hospital Oakland) called with a tentative date: April 4th! That's right around the corner...so that's the current status. We are waiting for insurance approval and a call from the hospital to schedule the pre-op.

Michelle's Thoughts on a 2nd CI

What am I suppose to type on this? Um- Hi?? I think that I am suppose to put my thoughts on here. My mom is making me do this, but I don't want to because I don't have anything to say. Um??? I am a swimmer so I can't hear in the water. This is my third winter swimming and my fourth summer is coming up in May. I would like a second CI because it would help me with localization and it would also help me in loud places like the cafeteria or at a pep rally. The new CI is splash proof, so I could use it when my coach is talking to me! (Still can't wear it when I swim though, darn!)

My mom will make me type more...so I'll guess I'll write more when I have something to say, which might be never!
Bye for now.

Meeting with the Surgeon

Well, we waited almost six months (who knows why?) before we made an appointment with the surgeon. Michelle and I had lots of conversations about what a 2nd implant could do for her....and finally decided it was worth a trip to the surgeon. Michelle's dad is very much in favor of the implant, so he made the appointment for us in San Ramon on February 21st.

Annual Mapping

In July, we had our annual mapping at Children's Hospital, Oakland. We talked with Danielle, the cochlear implant team audiologist, about the possibility of a second implant. She was somewhat hesitant since Michelle had not had her right side auditory nerve stimulated in over ten years. But, she suggested we talk with the surgeon at California Ear Institute in San Ramon if we wanted to pursue the idea further.