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.