One year later.

The one-year anniversary of my cochlear implant surgery slipped by, almost unnoticed. But a couple of days later, when I realized it had passed, I felt a rush of emotion as I thought about just how dramatically the implant has improved my hearing, and with it, my quality of life. (Of course, at 27 weeks pregnant, it doesn't take much for me to feel a rush of emotion, but whatever.)

Earlier this month, I attended a full week of arguments and presentations at the Tenth Circuit. Because we were on vacation the preceding week, I had forgotten to make arrangements for the court to set up the amplification system. And because the arguments I wanted to hear were in several different courtrooms, sometimes on the same day, it would have been difficult, if not impossible, for the court staff to provide me with amplification for everything, anyway. So I decided to "fly solo," and to see just how much I could hear without any assistance beyond my CI and my hearing aid.

I heard everything, or almost. Even sitting a few rows back in the spectator gallery, I was able to hear and understand most of the judges' questions, and most of the attorneys' responses. There was a mumbler here and there who was difficult for me to follow, but for the most part, I heard and understood and followed along. I can't quite articulate how incredible it felt to know that I can now walk into the courtroom on a moment's notice to support a colleague or hear a particular argument. Rush of emotion, anyone?

I've also been doing prenatal yoga for the past couple of months. You may recall the last time I took an organized yoga class. That experience was so frustrating and demoralizing that for the past year or so, I've been doing yoga on my own, with videotaped instruction. But now, having finally figured out how to keep my CI from flopping around when I do inversions, and with my pregnant hips crying out for some serious stretching, I decided to venture back into the studio.

To my delight, I'm loving it. I can hear virtually everything the instructor says, even when she moves around the room, even when I'm in a position from which I can't see her or any of my classmates, and even during shavasana. For the first time in my life, I understand why it is actually relaxing to just lie there at the end of yoga practice, because I am no longer anxiously trying to figure out what the instructor is saying or listening for a cue that it's time to open my eyes and sit up again.

These are just two recent examples of how the CI has made my life easier, and opened new doors for me. In an unrelated context, Steve and I were talking today about health insurance, and recalling how much we had to pay out-of-pocket for the surgery. A year ago, this seemed like a great deal of money to shell out for something with such unknown benefits. Today, Steve called it the best $X,000 we could have possibly spent.

I'm pretty pleased with our new windows, which cost a bit more than that, but overall, I have to agree with him.

Comments

[Shari]

I am glad that you are enjoying yoga. I don't really "relax" when I do yoga, so it is probably the effort to know what's going on and when to make the next move. I never thought about any activity that would cause a CI to flop around.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!