Guest guest Posted August 15, 2004 Report Share Posted August 15, 2004 Hello Everyone! I'd like to introduce myself as one of the newest group members. My name is Gayle and I'm a new candidate for a cochlear implant. I live in Atlanta, Georgia and have been hearing impaired all my life. My hearing loss was caused by a premature birth and difficult delivery during the 1940s and WWII. My parents were not aware I had hearing loss until I was 6 years old. I spoke and developed language at a normal rate so that delayed the hearing loss diagnosis. At ten years old I received my first hearing aid in the form of a clunky, wired gadget that had no comfortable place to be worn. I attended mainstream schools and did very well scholastically, though my social life was not quite as busy as some. Today, fifty years later, I'm a proud candidate for a cochlear implant. I've been " deaf " approximately 25 years now and recently became completely and totally deaf with no benefit from any hearing aid. I'm very glad there is a chance that I may hear again thru the cochlear implant. I've learned so much about what to expect from this forum group and I thank all of you that have written for sharing your knowledge and experiences. You've given me so much to look forward to. Yes, I'm scared of the surgery and even more scared that I will have to live with " Mickey Mouse " sounds all my life. Nevermind all that, I WILL be hearing again and some day, those funny voices will seem normal to me. I'm convinced of that and cannot wait to discover those sounds for myself. One of you posted a thought that has stayed with me: " There is no tomorrow; there is only today! " I hope you don't mind if I adopt it as a personal motto during this adventure I'm beginning. I will need to focus on my goal and handle this one step at a time. Thank you for all your support. Gayle from Atlanta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2004 Report Share Posted August 15, 2004 Hi Gayle, Sorry - I'm a little slow in responding today. We are very glad you decided to join us. There are a few members here from the Atlanta area and I lived in ville for 14 years so I am very familiar with that great city. One of my most cherished memories was singing the National Anthem at the old Atlanta Stadium on national TV. I was honored to sit in Ted 's box and wait to be escorted to the mound. I'll never forget that night. Since then, I lost my hearing and because of that, became tone deaf but the CI did give me back some confidence so I do sing a little but not in public anymore. <smile> Reading your message was very special and I can feel your excitement about being a candidate for the implant and rightfully so. We are very blessed to have this device available to us as it allows us to hear the wonderful world around us. I'm going to be watching for all of your news about the surgery and activation so please keep posting and updating us with your journey. I'm glad you found a motto here. That is just one of the ways the group will support you. Whatever it takes and whatever you need, we are here and will do our best. Welcome to CI Hear. Alice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2004 Report Share Posted August 15, 2004 Wish I had heard you singing the national anthem, Alice. That must have been something. Re: Hello! I'm a new member > Hi Gayle, > > Sorry - I'm a little slow in responding today. We are very glad you decided to join us. There are a few members here from the Atlanta area and I lived in ville for 14 years so I am very familiar with that great city. One of my most cherished memories was singing the National Anthem at the old Atlanta Stadium on national TV. I was honored to sit in Ted 's box and wait to be escorted to the mound. I'll never forget that night. Since then, I lost my hearing and because of that, became tone deaf but the CI did give me back some confidence so I do sing a little but not in public anymore. <smile> > > Reading your message was very special and I can feel your excitement about being a candidate for the implant and rightfully so. We are very blessed to have this device available to us as it allows us to hear the wonderful world around us. I'm going to be watching for all of your news about the surgery and activation so please keep posting and updating us with your journey. > > I'm glad you found a motto here. That is just one of the ways the group will support you. Whatever it takes and whatever you need, we are here and will do our best. > > Welcome to CI Hear. > > Alice > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2004 Report Share Posted August 15, 2004 Hi Gayle! I was born just 5 weeks after Pearl Harbor.. so we are in about the same time frame, age wise. I have only been deaf for 10 years and I am 62 now, looking at a cochlear implant. I hope we get to go thru the experience at the same time. It will be fun comparing notes! Welcome to this list! Pam (Anchorage Alaska) In a message dated 8/15/2004 8:55:24 AM Alaskan Daylight Time, gayle227@... writes: > > Hello Everyone! > > I'd like to introduce myself as one of the newest group members. My > name is Gayle and I'm a new candidate for a cochlear implant. > > I live in Atlanta, Georgia and have been hearing impaired all my > life. My hearing loss was caused by a premature birth and difficult > delivery during the 1940s and WWII. My parents were not aware I had > hearing loss until I was 6 years old. I spoke and developed language > at a normal rate so that delayed the hearing loss diagnosis. > > At ten years old I received my first hearing aid in the form of a > clunky, wired gadget that had no comfortable place to be worn. I > attended mainstream schools and did very well scholastically, though > my social life was not quite as busy as some. > > Today, fifty years later, I'm a proud candidate for a cochlear > implant. I've been " deaf " approximately 25 years now and recently > became completely and totally deaf with no benefit from any hearing > aid. I'm very glad there is a chance that I may hear again thru the > cochlear implant. > > I've learned so much about what to expect from this forum group and I > thank all of you that have written for sharing your knowledge and > experiences. You've given me so much to look forward to. Yes, I'm > scared of the surgery and even more scared that I will have to live > with " Mickey Mouse " sounds all my life. Nevermind all that, I WILL > be hearing again and some day, those funny voices will seem normal to > me. I'm convinced of that and cannot wait to discover those sounds > for myself. > > One of you posted a thought that has stayed with me: > > " There is no tomorrow; there is only today! " > > I hope you don't mind if I adopt it as a personal motto during this > adventure I'm beginning. I will need to focus on my goal and handle > this one step at a time. Thank you for all your support. > > Gayle from Atlanta > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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