So here we sit. Eli is now 8 months old and growing like a weed. He's healthy, big and happy. In fact, he's well in the 96% range for height...and weighs 20 lbs. For comparison, Noah, who is 3, weighs only 34 lbs. SO, with that in mind, the Cochlear Team feels Eli could have his first implant before he turns a year old. It's a pretty sweet deal. However, looking at implant options and talking about two surgeries (implant one side, then 3 months later, the other), I pause to contemplate the world.
FIRST we have had SUPERB help from our Birth to 3 program, our Deaf Mentor (Sarah, who basically rocks), our Guide-by-Your-Side (Karen), our ENT (Dr Chun), our audiologist, implant team and more I can't think of. I didn't realize one little boy could be important to so many people, so many strangers, so quickly. We have been blessed with good insurance and live in a community with a stellar health system. We also are lucky to be able to have jobs where we can go to appointments and not worry about losing income. So far, all is well. For this, I am beyond grateful.
SECOND, we are learning sign language. Sarah, our mentor, is like Eli in that she has profound hearing loss. What this means is that they can hear...but unless the sound is a BOOMING jet engine, there will be no recognition. SO, until the implant process is at hand, we are learning sign language. Sarah doesn't speak at all, so we are learning a LOT by immersion. Noah is a signing fiend. I am so proud of him. He asks Sarah how to sign things all the time. Ask him to sign "Buzz" (as in Lightyear) for you. It's cute.
FINALLY, I think of those in my family and my friends who ask about Eli and support our journey. There are not words to explain how critical this it to us. Eli's smile makes you fall in love with him instantly, so support is not hard to come by, but it's important to recognize it and say THANK YOU!
SO there you go, my thoughts on the process to date. We have MONDO appointments with our cochlear team in the next several weeks. My little man has many people working to "fix his ears," as Noah puts it. Who knew Noah was on the right track when he told Jake that we just needed to change the batteries in Eli's ears.
