A Mother's Day Miracle

[Guest guest]

, thank you for asking how I'm doing. Its been almost 3 months since my

Ci was activated, and all my expectations have been met and surpassed. The

primary reason I did this was to enhance my ability to communicate effectively

with my mother (hearing... dad is deaf). She is one of those who, no matter

how hard she tried, just could NOT learn ASL, either receptively or

expressively. When I learned last fall of the advances in the technology and

surgery, and

also became aware of the changes of attitudes in the MAP profession (more

open, more realistic as to outcomes, and more careful in promoting the actual

benefits and disadvantages of a CI) I began to be willing to consider the CI

primarily to be able to talk with my mother again.

This Mother's Day will be the first in 20 years that we've been able to talk

together while working in the kitchen, enjoy a good conversation at the table,

and be able to laugh and not miss the punch lines. We both consider it a

miracle to have this ability after so many years of struggling to communicate.

She was the one who worked diligently with me as a child to give me a language

base and get me ready for school, and who was with me when I adopted my

children from Colombia (both of who are also deaf). I have virtually 100

percent

comprehension during conversations with her (though I must be looking at her).

I am even picking up some phrases when she is talking to someone else and not

even looking at me. I am sure its because I am so familiar with her voice and

vocal patterns. She is also having to adjust to her loss of " auditory

privacy! " This is a major life adjustment for her after 50 years living and

being

with deaf family (in-laws, husband, two deaf daughters, and two deaf

grandchildren). All is good, but we have some good laughs about the phone calls

I can now

" overhear " and how she is having to learn to talk to me in complete

sentences!

I'm also hearing many other things (including the cockatoo who just came home

last week) but all those pale against the biggest miracle of all... restoring

and enhancing the relationship between my mother and I.

May you all have a wonderful Mother's Day too!

Janet