How my Cochlear Implant Journey Began

As a Group Leader for “To Be Like Me”, I’m so grateful to be a part of the team and talking about how my cochlear implants makes my life better. Several kids today asked me a question about how I came to the idea of why cochlear implants are working for me. It made my heart smile when they ask these curious questions because there was a prompting in my Spirit that it is okay to answer that question as part of my journey.

As a deaf young adult, I was asked to help a young kid who has similar differences as he had cochlear implants and myself being a bilateral hearing aid user. Faith led me on to help out with his reading and speech skills. When I first met him, he showed me an example of how cochlear implants can be a possibility for me. College years, I have faced some negative opinions from the Deaf community about how and why I am involved in working with this awesome kid. He showed me the attitude of a loving heart with a smile. His mother was grateful that I was able to teach basic sign language and being able to read books to her son.

Many years later until Winter of 2010, my audiologist gave me the option of getting cochlear implants because she knew of my social history of my challenges in the hearing world. My ability to talk with sign language using the total communication method prompted me to consider the idea of getting cochlear implants just because my spirit gave me a gift to believe that cochlear implants will work for me. To go through the process is a beautiful challenge that I’m working through my personal best. This technology I have now coaxes my brain to perceive clear sound. At my cochlear implant clinic, I was given two different manufacturers and my eyes lit up to choose Cochlear because of my prior volunteer experience helping out with the kid.

The following summer in July of 2010, insurance approved the procedure which I had surgery for one ear. It made me feel confident and brave to think for myself by prayer knowing it will work for me. Activation day was an easy process because I trust my heart to believe that there will be a miracle which I trust my mind to move forward from hearing aids. Eight months later, my first cochlear implant was winning over my hearing aid which is a sign that every bit of sound gets clearer with time. March of 2011 was the time I went bilateral and it is truly a gift for me through faith that I can hear using my personal best.

Thinking about faith and service means to me that if you are serving someone in need, then a person will be encouraging upon blessings soon. That is who I am in my cochlear implant journey. For the last twenty- four years, I went through four different hearing aids to treat my severe-profound loss. Presently at the age of thirty-three, I encourage others to know that both deaf and hearing worlds cannot be secluded from one another just because there is a certain ability for two worlds to combine by creating a bridge to infinite possibilities.

One thing about my cochlear implants that it really helps me to pursue my dream to become an information technology professional. I have saved my money by going back to school to take online classes. I didn’t need the assistance of the vocational work assistance just because I worked so hard to believe in my abilities by crushing out these negative opinions that led state officials taking advantage of my good spirit. Independence is key to working at my personal goals with a positive attitude. When others show grave concern about my disabilities, I just ignore these things knowing anyone like me can have abilities to reach their goals no matter they wish to do as long it is a good thing. Today, I continue to be a positive example upon all kinds of people to know that everyone is inclusive no matter if we have a disability or not. It is enabling us to see the faith of Light that we are loved and cared for to make us be part of society everywhere. We encourage to educate others on the importance of belonging to the world we live in today.