My daughter's second cochlear implant
By Carolyn, mum to Lily, aged 9
I wanted Lily to have another CI so that if her head was injured or if her first implant failed at any point in her life she would have a back up. Additionally from a safety perspective I felt it was important she could locate where sound was coming from which is impossible with one implant but research shows that 'localisation' can be achieved with two. If successful a most important benefit would be an improvement in Lily's ability to hear, especially in background noise.
We asked the Scottish Executive to fund Lily's second implant. They know how successful the first one has been and when they read the reasons they agreed.
Lily was very keen.
Manchester St Mary's hospital experience was fantastic. Staff made it so easy for both of us. Lily felt like a star for two days. Still emotionally draining for because no-one could guarantee Lily's nerve would still work after nine and an half years with no stimulation. She was so brave.
The scar was tiny compared to the one six and a half years before.
On our way to the switch on appointment Lily said 'I am so excited Mummy I want to hear with two ears. I don't want to just hear with one
The simplicity of her statement just stunned me and I wished that I could have filmed it and played it to all the authorities that fund children's implants.
24 November 05 - Switch On
I was really worried incase the nerve was dead and there was no sensation when the device was being mapped. But incredibly we achieved a 'range of forty' which I did not completely understand - it was enough for me to see the Audiologist was impressed.
Lily said with a quizzical smile on her face that it felt 'quite disturbing' and that it just felt like buzzing.
She did wear it all the time afterwards. Then followed five days of working with her and despite having our expectations well managed - we were both very disappointed. I felt guilty when I remembered enthusing to the mother of a 14 year old girl about how amazing a CI is. What if she gets her daughter implanted and it is like this. What have I done.
Then on the fifth night suddenly she could tell the difference between Liiiileee (Lily) and Max. Then right afterwards she could tell the difference between five animal noises. I ran to get her a rare treat can of Coke. We celebrated and I called her teacher of the deaf. And yes he was thrilled even though it was 9.45pm.
On the seventh day we went to Manchester for a map check and I don't think they believed me that she could discriminate. But she did it again.
I am now so positive that we will achieve at least as much with the new implant as the old. I expect it to take a while but we will do it and already I can say hand on heart I know we did the right thing. Now I will detail Lily's progress on this site.
Bearing in mind the awful feeling I had for those five days when I couldn't imagine it working I wouldn't like to say to anyone have an implant its definitely going to work. Lily is an amazing little girl that loves language and we both work hard at rehab.
Comments
Hi,Carolyn its lovely to catch up on Lilys progress,my kids were fascinated.Lily writes
better than Harry[10].
George
Posted by: George | December 12, 2005 10:50 PM
Hi,
Could you email me about Lily's progress with the second implant?
Thanks
CRPettit, M.D
Posted by: C R Pettit, M.D. | October 5, 2006 07:15 AM
Hi! Just want to say what a nice site.
Posted by: Rekardo | July 9, 2008 07:44 AM