Her "New Ears" Audiogram
Her last audiogram in 2013 w/her Freedoms...and you can see her Speech Reception was at 20 db...meaning she can hear speech softer than that looking at the chart but not clearly enough to understand it until you reach 20 decibels.Now with her new N6's... She still hears very well with her CIs but can hear clearly at 5 db in the sound proof booth. That's a soft whisper! We all know that in any type of noise that will dramatically decrease her ability to hear speech but we are very pleased with her new ears and the main thing is...she too is very pleased with them and that's the most important!! She will...
Source: Cochlear Kids - July 12, 2014 Category: Other Conditions Authors: Val Source Type: blogs
The Teenager
Thirteen I remember my first Mother's Day. I wondered if I would still be a mother a week later, a month later or a year later. People buzzed around me with concern for my newborn child. We become mothers because we have children. This little guy taught me how to be selfless, how to be patient, how to be deaf and then how to hear. My life slowed down and I watched him grow up in slow motion, yet here he is, a teenager. Not long ago I was driving down the road on the way to a Wednesday night church service and I hear a 12 year old voice lift from the back seat, "Mama. I know why you only had two ...
Source: Cochlear Kids - May 10, 2014 Category: Audiology Authors: VBnBama Source Type: blogs
The Teenager
Thirteen I remember my first Mother's Day. I wondered if I would still be a mother a week later, a month later or a year later. People buzzed around me with concern for my newborn child. We become mothers because we have children. This little guy taught me how to be selfless, how to be patient, how to be deaf and then how to hear. My life slowed down and I watched him grow up in slow motion, yet here he is, a teenager. Not long ago I was driving down the road on the way to a Wednesday night church service and I hear a 12 year old voice lift from the back seat, "Mama. I know why you only had two ...
Source: Cochlear Kids - May 10, 2014 Category: Other Conditions Authors: Val Source Type: blogs
New Ears Update
After a full ten week wait, we finally received B's new ears! She was so excited to go get them turned on a couple of weeks ago. She loves the fact that she can now change the colors without the messy stickers. We also figured out that the N5 covers (her brother wear N5s) fit her N6s and they are cheaper to buy so we ordered a few more colors for her along with the coil covers to match.I am so proud for her and proud of her. She was asked to speak to a first grade class about her implants since their reading story was about a deaf child. The teacher has a deaf nephew and has taught my children in the past so she was quite ...
Source: Cochlear Kids - May 9, 2014 Category: Audiology Authors: VBnBama Source Type: blogs
Week 10
We have begun week 10 of the "it should take about 8-10 weeks for the whole process". Looks like our "process" is taking longer. However, I did get a letter from our insurance company that states that it appears shewill qualifyfor the replacements. I heard from SunMed today who stated they are still waiting forfinal approval and then they will contact me. So again, we sit and wait. I was teaching yesterday about adages/proverbs. One adage stated, "Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet." I'm going with that!! Next week I have both of my children's IEPs for school. Gage will be preparing for the 8th grade and my B will ...
Source: Cochlear Kids - April 8, 2014 Category: Audiology Authors: VBnBama Source Type: blogs
Week 10
We have begun week 10 of the "it should take about 8-10 weeks for the whole process". Looks like our "process" is taking longer. However, I did get a letter from our insurance company that states that it appears she will qualify for the replacements. I heard from SunMed today who stated they are still waiting for final approval and then they will contact me. So again, we sit and wait. I was teaching yesterday about adages/proverbs. One adage stated, "Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet." I'm going with that!! Next week I have both of my children's IEPs for school. Gage will be preparing for the 8th grade and my B w...
Source: Cochlear Kids - April 8, 2014 Category: Other Conditions Authors: Val Source Type: blogs
Waiting to Hear...
...and the latest response from SunMed is..."Mrs. Blakely, I will contact you as soon as I hear from the insurance company." Here is what I would send if I we are still waiting at the end of this week:Dear (insurance company):My ten year old child, Brooklyn Blakely, is seeking approval for replacement processors for her cochlear implants. I understand that your work load holds tremendous weight and we are trying to express patience as we await this approval but we have basically been on hold since the first of February.While everyone in your office enjoys impromptu conversations with strangers in a day's passing or the bac...
Source: Cochlear Kids - March 12, 2014 Category: Audiology Authors: VBnBama Source Type: blogs
Waiting to Hear...
...and the latest response from SunMed is..."Mrs. Blakely, I will contact you as soon as I hear from the insurance company." Here is what I would send if I we are still waiting at the end of this week:Dear (insurance company):My ten year old child, Brooklyn Blakely, is seeking approval for replacement processors for her cochlear implants. I understand that your work load holds tremendous weight and we are trying to express patience as we await this approval but we have basically been on hold since the first of February.While everyone in your office enjoys impromptu conversations with strangers in a day's passing or the bac...
Source: Cochlear Kids - March 12, 2014 Category: Other Conditions Authors: Val Source Type: blogs
She's Not Been Approved
We've waited (almost) a month now since we had our fundraiser, since we sent in our initial paperwork, and finally we have a response...she has not been approved (YET). We are just now getting to that approved/not approved point. I did receive a figure (a total) on the amount of out of pocket expenses for the processors and WE HAVE ENOUGH FOR TWO!!!! Hallelujah.I quickly responded with "Move forward, move forward. We have it!" Several thousand dollars is a lot of money but Praise The Lord He's seen fit for her to get two new ears, not just one. Now they are sending the "okay" to my insurance company to proceed with paperwo...
Source: Cochlear Kids - February 17, 2014 Category: Other Conditions Authors: Val Source Type: blogs
Thank You
As we begin to fill out our thank you cards, I realize I didn't buy enough. There is no way for me to personally thank everyone because there were so many people who donated money, food, their voices, and prayers for the event last weekend. There were people in the crowd I never got to see, or hug, and filling out these cards seems like such a small thing to do. Our community has pitched in and raise over $5,000.00 towards Brook's new ears. She said the other day, as I tried everything to just turn one of them on, "I want ears that match. I want some that are all the same color and not pieces put together!" We have submitt...
Source: Cochlear Kids - January 30, 2014 Category: Other Conditions Authors: Val Source Type: blogs
Awaiting the Call
I am now just awaiting the call back from SunMed (I had not contacted them prior to this weekend's email) to see if we have enough to proceed with Beez replacement processor order! I have to work all day but can't wait to get home and see what they say. I know they'll have paperwork to do, info to wait on from insurance etc. but to know that we have taken one step forward towards getting her new "ears" is beyond exciting. I was shocked when the benefit singing raised so much in one night but I shouldn't be. The Lord Blessed us all in that room Saturday night and I'm grateful we were just present! The Angelic voices that my...
Source: Cochlear Kids - January 27, 2014 Category: Other Conditions Authors: Val Source Type: blogs
Prepping for an upgrade
We are now prepping in high gear for Brook's upgrade to the N6 Cochlear implant processors. I suppose being out of the loop, not reading blogs like I used to, not reading the group messages, etc. I am just now getting the word from Cochlear that they do not bill my insurance company. That will be up to me to seek reimbursement for any durable medical expense. We will be required to pay the $7275.00 (I am aware they cost over $9,000.00 each but we will do a trade in to receive a discount) upfront for each ear. We are taking it one ear at a time at this point! We have some local friends doing a benefit for us which is schedu...
Source: Cochlear Kids - January 15, 2014 Category: Other Conditions Authors: Val Source Type: blogs
The Latest on Goldenhar Boy
So we spent most of yesterday at his annual appointment that usually takes six hours (but we got lucky and were done in 4). This is where a social worker, nutritionist and several dental experts get together and see some of the special cases to make sure the kids are gaining weight, getting proper nutrition and to discuss future surgical plans. We have been planning for a jaw distraction in his teenage years all along but yesterday the idea was tossed up that a different surgery may be better for him. The main problem is finding a proper bite for him with so many missing and misshapen teeth. We are going to start seeing an...
Source: Cochlear Kids - December 27, 2013 Category: Other Conditions Authors: Val Source Type: blogs
Study Day
Back at the first of the year, as my Dermatologist removed the cancerous tumor on my foot, we discussed my children. She was very interested in the oldest child's Goldenhar Syndrome. She had heard of it, but never seen a person who had been diagnosed to her recollection...so she asked us to participate in a large event held there each November where Dermatology Doctors come from far and wide to learn more...
My mom and I loaded the boy up at 5 am this morning and headed south, to UAB's Kirkland Clinic. They provided us with breakfast, coffee, cookies, other snacks, and more coffee. The boy earned a nice monetary pri...
Source: Cochlear Kids - November 3, 2013 Category: Other Conditions Authors: Val Source Type: blogs
