Hopkins, Home Away From Home?

[Guest guest]

On Friday, January 21st, I went to Hopkins yet again for another

pre-surgical appointment. Step One: Audiological evaluation, Step

Two: CAT or MRI, Step Three: Psychological Evaluation, Step Four:

Meet the surgeon (and the interns, and the student doctors, and the

nurses, and the....) Step Five: Device and Information class. Step

6: Surgery! Here I am at Step 5! I can't believe I'm at step 5!

Part of me feels like this whole process is not really taking place.

I suppose I have tried to make do with BTE HA's for so long, that the

implant was just not something I spent time thinking about. My

family continues to voice comments like, " Won't it be great if you

can hear the cat's purr? " " Wouldn't it be terrific if you can hear

Max pant? " (the dog - not my hubby) GRIN. " Wouldn't it be great if

the NEXT time the 17 year cicadas come, that you can hear it? " But

part of me has been thinking, " Wouldn't it be wonderful if this was

really happening? "

Supportive hubby again took off work to take me to " Step 5 " at

Hopkins. He was miffed at himself to enter the parking garage at JHH

to see that a new professional sign was at the entrance. The first

time we visited, there was a hand-printed sign on typing paper that

read, " If you are Deaf, honk horn for attendant " . The second time we

went, he very much wanted to take a picture of that sign, and armed

himself with needed camera. But alas! No sign! I, personally,

think he meant to write an article about it. It really peeved him

for some reason. This time he did not bring the camera -- and there

stood a brand new metal sign with blue engraving. " If you are Deaf,

please honk horn for assistance " . Pllleeeeeze.............. like a

Deaf person can't read the sign that says, " Press button for garage

exit ticket " ?

Anyway, we parked the car and jogged to the stairwell. It was

freezing. We jogged so we wouldn't remain semi-permanent fixtures in

the garage. Into the circular moving entrance door, and face to face

with..... you guessed it! That same security guard! I opened up all

my bags and handed him all of my ALD's and said, " You work here alot,

don't you? " And grinned really big. He grinned right back and

said, " You COME here alot, don't you? " And grinned just as big!

As we zipped up everything and walked to the front of security I

thought about that comment some! I turned to hubby and said, " You

know? This will become a very familiar place in the next year! "

Hubby chuckled and said, " You only say that, , because you know

where all the bathrooms are now! "

Up we go in the elevator to floor six. As soon as Terry hit the

button for floor 6, someone must have shouted. Hubby grabbed the

closing door and held it open. In came a very young couple pushing a

stroller, with grandma trailing behind. In the stroller sat a little

dark-haired boy with HUGE brown eyes, chubby cheeks and impish grin.

He couldn't have been more than 3 years old. He looked up at me, and

then at my ears -- and reached up and touched his own ears. His

little hands gingerly touched each side of his head. At this point I

saw a CI on the right side of his little head, and a BTE in his left

ear. His impish grin turned to a huge smile and he clapped his

hands. I stood there not knowing whether to cry or laugh! I think I

may have done both. Could he hear his little hands clap? Would I

ever hear little hands clap?

Within seconds the elevator doors opened and we all went out into the

corridor of Level 6 -- home of " The Listening Center " at Hopkins

Hospital. I went to check in, and peeked around while Terry listened

to the instructions of the receptionist. (They are behind glass -- I

would never hear them.....) I kept searching, and looking and then I

spied them! pamphlets -- and many were gone! Woo-hoo!

We didn't have to wait very long before the audiologist came to get

us. She introduced herself, and the young woman at her side.

Another intern.... very nice, but nervous young woman. Into a big

spacious office we go -- and sit in front of a large table with 3

very prominent CI displays and cases on top. Before we even began,

the audi asked what questions I might have.

" Well, I feel pretty educated about CI's at this point! I'm sure

you'll answer any questions I have as we proceed! " , I said.

" It would actually help me if I knew what questions you had ahead of

time, " she answered.

I scoot my chair closer and held my mic farther out..... she had a

very tiny voice! So I relayed all the questions and concerns I had,

and she answered every single one. I felt much more at ease. Hubby

had a couple of questions too.

All 3 devices, and attachements, batteries, accessories, etc., were

brought out for me to see, handle and ask questions about. The

intern's eyes were enormous. She must have been brand spankin' new,

because she looked as though she'd never seen them before! After

about an hour, the audi asked an intimidating question.

" Are you ready to choose a device and set up your surgery? "

I must have looked as " thrown " as I felt. I turned to hubby and

said, " So? " .

He took my hand and said, " , we've researched this thing to

death! I think you know which one you have the most confidence in! "

The audi interrupted and said, " You don't have to choose today. If

you want you can go home and think about it some more, and then email

us and let us know! "

Well I wanted a surgery date! As I did indeed feel very confident

about " who " I was going to use, I made the decision. Terry again

squeezed my hand, and darn! He had big tears in his eyes, causing me

to almost boo-hoo myself!

Today, I opened my " inbox " to find an email from JHH. Surgery date:

April 6th. The world stood still.

Portis

Frederick County SHHH

Frederick, MD