Gala!

Advanced Bionics sponsored a table at the fundraising gala for the Auditory Verbal Center of Atlanta. My husband and I and our best friends were invited to attend. This was a black tie affair with silent auction, dinner, and dancing. In the past, I never would have attended. Sure, it's always fun to dress up...but trying to feel a part of an event? That's too hard when you have a hearing loss. Trying to understand speech in a noisy environment is frustrating. In the past, I would have felt isolated and frustrated. That was not the case on Saturday night.

My friend, Amy.

When we arrived, the dance band was playing. I set my Naida on clear voice medium so I could hear the music softly but hear my friend completely. We walked around enjoying the auction and the hors d'oeurves.

Susan Frisbee, AB clinical specialist

One of  the other guests that night was Susan Frisbee, clinical specialist for Advanced Bionics. She introduced me to one of the top audiologists in Atlanta, Jolie Fainburg. Jolie is great--gregarious and very chatty--and she talks fast! At one point, she apologized for talking so fast because she thought I must be missing a bunch of what she was saying. Not so...I got it all!

Dr. Bhansali and his favorite patient!

At dinner, the table was rounded out by my audiologist Katie, and my implant surgeon, Dr. Bhansali. I'm not sure why, but I'm still a little intimidated by principals and doctors. Nonetheless, we chatted pleasantly through dinner. At one point, Dr. Bhansali asked me if I could understand him. I was a little perplexed. Of course I could (I'd switched to UltraZoom for dinner conversation). When I told him I heard him with no problem, others at the table chimed in that they could not hear the person across the table...but I could. Even the doctor and two audiologists at the table were amazed at the performance of the Naida UltraZoom program.

Me and the hubs!

Sure, there were times I couldn't hear at the gala...like when the speakers mumbled into the microphones (no one at the table could hear them, either). Going to a social event, meeting new people, and enjoying myself--well, that's a big deal for me.
It may sound corny and trite, but I have to say it: thanks Advanced Bionics. Piece by piece, little by little, I'm getting my life back--and I am truly grateful.

My lost tribe

A few weeks ago I was invited to become a BEA (Bionic EarAssociation) mentor. The BEA is a group of cochlear implant recipients and professionals that connect to promote the benefits of implants and Advanced Bionics technologies.  After receiving the gift of hearing in July, I’ve wanted to find a way to “give back.” Helping others on their CI journey seemed a perfect way.

Cochlear Implant Mecca

I flew out to California (the home of Advanced Bionics) with an online friend who helped me in my own CI journey. We were so excited to become “real-life” friends and spend time with others we’d met online. 

Megan Pender and Me!

We were exhausted by the time we finally arrived in California…but there was no way we could sleep! Fellow CI users were gathering in the hotel lobby! The fun was just beginning!

Most of us on the CI journey do not have local friends with implants. Sure, we have people who support us and care for us…but we don’t have a local friend who has an implant and understands what we have gone through and are continuing to go through.  Now, here we were with others who have walked in our moccasins. I found my lost tribe!

Some of my tribe mates.

While we all travelled a different route to get to the point of needing a cochlear implant, we all had the same goal: hearing better. On Friday, we shared our stories with each other. Some had been hearing impaired their entire life, while others were late deafened. Some were parents of profoundly deaf children. The common thread between us was that through the technology of Advanced Bionics, we got our lives back. To me, the most poignant stories were the parents. They were so afraid of the future for their children. Would they learn? Would they speak? And now, they have hope—hope that the dreams they dreamed for them will come true. Does it get any better than that?

Part of the mentor training included product knowledge. Knowing how our CIs work and the technology that goes into them helps us help others make informed decisions. I just scratched my head and wondered how anyone could make a choice other than AB. The technology is just that much better. We were even given a tour of the facility so we could see the implants and processors being made. Imagine the “Mike TV” part of Willy Wonka…white sterile suits and high security. Cool stuff for techies!

Mentors with the AB president

Saturday morning started with a chat with Hansjuerg Emch, president of AB. He wanted to know how we liked our processors. He asked us for specific examples of how the new technology was improving our lives. I had several examples and was happy to share! Chatting with the president I realized what makes AB different from most companies (not most CI companies; most companies in general): AB’s foundation is built on having the best technology and the best customer support. When they say they care, I truly believe they do. Throughout the weekend, the mentors were asked about what works and what doesn’t work: items from websites, online forums, iPad apps, processors…what do we like and what do we want to see improved. Those who can make improvements took notes and I expect to see some changes in the future, making some of the sites more user friendly.

Saturday we looked at in depth our roles as mentors. How do we help those who reach out to us? In life, it’s all about helping each other, isn’t it? Experienced moms help new moms, experienced teachers help new teacher, and so on and so on.

 So it is with cochlear implants. Hearing loss changes us. Many of us are still reeling from the sudden changes in our cozy little world. Others have had years to acclimate. No matter where anyone is on this journey, it’s far easier to travel it with a friend. That’s what mentorship is all about. We find our “tribe mates” and then we journey with them. Thank you, AB, for helping me find my tribe!

Southern region mentors with Edie Gibson.