Lily in her own words
Lily, aged 9
This is a letter written by Lily Davidson, aged 9 who lives in Edinburgh and has just had a second cochlear implant at the Manchester Cochlear Implant Centre.
She wrote the letter to another 9 year old, Ishmail, to reassure him before he had surgery.
Dear IshmailMy name is Lily and I am 9 years old same as you. And I have got two cochlear implants. I had my second implant this week on Monday 31st October - Halloween. And when I got my first one I didn't feel a thing it only hurt a tiny wee bit. I didn't go through any pain I didn't suffer it was actually very good for me because I could hear for the very first time. I could hear much better than I could hear through my hearing aids. Its really good to have a cochlear implant it's a once in a lifetime chance and you want to hear everything don't you? It's really good to hear everything. You can be famous with a cochlear implant and you can get a job like me when you are nine years old still. My job is telling children not to be scared to have a cochlear implant. Its actually very good Ishmail.
I like having a cochlear implant I knew it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I took it and here I am hearing much better than I used to when I was tiny. I can sometimes hear very well when I sit next to the TV and I don't need subtitles.
I can hear my Mum when I am upstairs.
When you get the scar it is tiny most people won't even see it. The scar is quite cool - you can't feel the stitches on it.
The pain will go really quickly and the nurses give you lots of pain killers to make sure that there is no pain.
These are photographs of me and one of them is me starting to wake up after my operation - then you can see the next photograph which was only one and a half hours later and I am happy. The nurses were really nice to me and they treated me specially.I promise that everything will be alright and that you will hear much better than you do just now.
Its great to have a cochlear implant and its very awesome.From
Lily Davidson
Lily's mum, Carolyn, writes in our guest column her own account of Lily's second cochlear implant
Comments
heya lily (and ishmail ...and all others ! )
i read your article lily and i agree so much. Of course there are some downfalls but that makes the good times even better.
I love to see the reaction that people have when they discover i'm deaf - since they hadn't a clue.
like lily says you can be famous .....taht what i want to be !!! i would like to be an actress .....and travel the world, amaze more people!
well good luck to everyone out there and we must meet up soon lily !!!
a big hug dee xox
Posted by: dilara aka dee | December 9, 2005 11:51 PM
We think you are an amazing young girl lily, so strong and focused. Taking the time to help others understand and making it easier for them. Love the photograph by the way, you look so pretty
How is Max? We are all so proud of you lily, even though we are your more distant cousins, we love to hear your progress and are thrilled to hear how well you are doing. Well done Lyn and Les, you should be proud of yourselfs too. Have an absoloutely stupendous Christmas, may it be a magical one for you! lots of love, Lorraine, rod, Charlie and Lucinda. XXX HAPPY CHRISTMAS.
Posted by: Lorraine Shale | December 12, 2005 12:18 PM
Lily,
You won't remember us but I am sure your mum will have told you all about us. It is lovely to see what a pretty young girl you have turned into - a far cry from the tiny baby who spent weeks in hospital with our son Sean. The bravery you had then has not left you and you continue to grow and amaze everyone who knows of you.
Your mum keeps asking us to bring Sean to see you when we are out your way but as usual we have never quite made it.
We hope you find the world of hearing with both ears a marvellous place to be.
Mum - you must be so proud! Good to hear things are going well. Have a fab christmas!
Love
Brian, Jackie, Sean & Ciara xxxx
Posted by: Brian, Jackie, Sean & Ciara Donohoe | December 16, 2005 12:25 AM
We hope you find the world of hearing with both ears a marvellous place to be.
Mum - you must be so proud! Good to hear things are going well. Have a fab christmas!http://idfhk.net/
Posted by: FHDH | April 9, 2009 10:05 AM
HELLO EVERYONE THIS IS THE REAL LILY DAVIDSON HERE.To prove it..my bday is 15 of may '96..on the cochlear website it says it 1 of jan '97..thats not true..its 15 of may..Missing you all!!!Espescially you Dlara..How are you and your mum and are people still writing there names with pen? LOL i know i did!:D
Love.
From.
Lily J I Davidson
Posted by: Lily Davidson | September 12, 2009 03:32 AM
Oh come on,does anyone comment anymore? ='[
Posted by: Lily Davidson | December 25, 2009 12:34 AM