We had Miss Kat's pre-op appointment yesterday. It took forever! We got our prescriptions and an envelope that they said was her "ticket into surgery". The hospital will call today to tell us what time to be there on Monday.
We also got our post-op appointment moved a little bit earlier than expected. The surgeon generally is very strict about waiting a full 4 weeks. I explained our situation and said we needed to have her activated by Dec. 1. He said "No problem"! I was shocked! Our post op is set for Nov. 20 and activation will be Nov. 21 and 24. We are still terrified though. We are so worried that he will look at her appointment and say "No way. This is way too early". It is only 17 days post surgery, and he likes at least 30. We are worried our whole activation will get cancelled again at the last minute. Ugh, like we need another thing to worry about right now.
Tonight is Trick or Treating, then we have Miss Kat's best friend's birthday, and then we pack up to go to the hospital!
Kat Reading
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The meeting
This morning was the cochlear implant committee meeting. I sat in to make sure than the information being presented was unbiased and accurate.
Miss Kat's audiologist spoke for a minute about her hearing history and audiology. Then they read a statement from our speech therapist (she was unable to attend because of a family issue). It expressed the fact that Miss Kat was motivated and able to progress in her auditory skills and that she fully supports Miss Kat getting an implant. She stated that Miss Kat is "an excellent candidate".
The classroom placement came up very briefly and I read a statement from Miss Kat's teacher. It laid out the services she received at school and the fact that they are fully prepared to support Miss Kat's success in anyway they can. Our audiologist also mentioned that she is in the only placement that is available for her! Another committee member (I have no idea who) said that she can either be at her school and educated, or in a corner alone in an oral class! I also told them that if Miss Kat shows improvement and becomes an oral language user, we are more than willing to look into a change of placement.
After that the surgeon just looked around and asked if they were all in agreement. Everyone nodded and one guy said "I give her two thumbs up for the implant"! So....it is set! Surgery is Monday!!!
We are headed out right now to tour the new hospital. (We had to change hospitals because we didn't want to wait until December) I'm so excited. This is going to move very fast now. Her pre-op is Thursday! Then Halloween, then surgery!
Miss Kat's audiologist spoke for a minute about her hearing history and audiology. Then they read a statement from our speech therapist (she was unable to attend because of a family issue). It expressed the fact that Miss Kat was motivated and able to progress in her auditory skills and that she fully supports Miss Kat getting an implant. She stated that Miss Kat is "an excellent candidate".
The classroom placement came up very briefly and I read a statement from Miss Kat's teacher. It laid out the services she received at school and the fact that they are fully prepared to support Miss Kat's success in anyway they can. Our audiologist also mentioned that she is in the only placement that is available for her! Another committee member (I have no idea who) said that she can either be at her school and educated, or in a corner alone in an oral class! I also told them that if Miss Kat shows improvement and becomes an oral language user, we are more than willing to look into a change of placement.
After that the surgeon just looked around and asked if they were all in agreement. Everyone nodded and one guy said "I give her two thumbs up for the implant"! So....it is set! Surgery is Monday!!!
We are headed out right now to tour the new hospital. (We had to change hospitals because we didn't want to wait until December) I'm so excited. This is going to move very fast now. Her pre-op is Thursday! Then Halloween, then surgery!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Miss Kat's Pre-Op Spoken Language
Receptive No! Katrina Daddy Mama Ball Shoes Thank you Meow Baby Cookie Hamburger Hot dog Ice cream cone Airplane Uh-oh Ouch I love you Garbage Mouse Monkey Movie More Ready Fish Finished Horse Red Blue Yellow Green Orange Purple Cat Doggy Candy Cheese Off Apple | Expressive Oh NO! You Mine Baby Ball Daddy Mama Doggie More Movie Monkey Red Blue Green Yellow Orange Brown One Two Ready Wow Ice cream Shoes Me Cow Poop Help me Thank you Meow Cookie Candy Owie Apple Mad Birthday |
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The phone call
Monday, October 6th at around 3:30 in the afternoon I received a phone call from the ENT. They were calling to cancel Miss Kat's surgery. The surgeon was concerned because their was a disagreement between audiologists. He said that since our former audiologist was a member of the CI Center's implant committee she needed to be on board with the surgery.
As soon as we found this out we drove to see the audiologist. We told her that our surgery had been cancelled because of her objections. We went back to her little room and told her what was going on. We told her that many things had changed since she had last seen Miss Kat. She just kept repeating that she had no new information and that what she knew of Miss Kat made her a bad implant candidate. We asked specifically what her concerns were. She mentioned that she thought that her speech skills were underdeveloped, that she thought her school placement was inappropriate, and that she thought that Miss Kat wouldn't be getting therapy. When we tried to explain the truth, she just cut us off and kept saying that she wasn't informed of that.
My husband and I became very frustrated, We were trying to explain the situation and the changes, but she just didn't care. She repeated over and over that she didn't know what was going on and that they would have a meeting, and that we should just wait and see what happens in the meeting. She kept saying "I'm just one vote, so even if I say no..." I asked why she was against it and she said that she thought they "needed to be implanting responsibly". I told her that there were tons of centers that implanted pre-lingually deaf signers and she indicated that she thought they shouldn't be.
Eventually the conversation deteriorated and I left in a huff. I was so hurt and outraged that this woman wanted to deny my child the gift of hearing. She just kept saying "It can wait", she even went so far as to say "You waited 5 years, a few more weeks won't matter". That is when I lost it. I told her that was blatantly untrue. I told her that the moment that Miss Kat's hearing loss became severe that I was in that office asking for information about an implant. I said "Don't you dare imply that we don't want this. I was here the second she was eligible." I told her that Miss Kat's loss was progressive and that she has NOT been deaf since birth and that she has only been unable to effectively use aids for a few months. She is not a classic, pre-lingually severe-profoundly deaf child at this age. She has experienced hearing, and listening.
Nothing changed in the meeting, but I am still happy I told her what I thought. I made it clear that I knew she was doing it because Miss Kat signs. I am attending the CI committee meeting, it is October 28th. I want to hear what these people will be saying about my child. I think that my attendance will help make sure it is unbiased.
As soon as we found this out we drove to see the audiologist. We told her that our surgery had been cancelled because of her objections. We went back to her little room and told her what was going on. We told her that many things had changed since she had last seen Miss Kat. She just kept repeating that she had no new information and that what she knew of Miss Kat made her a bad implant candidate. We asked specifically what her concerns were. She mentioned that she thought that her speech skills were underdeveloped, that she thought her school placement was inappropriate, and that she thought that Miss Kat wouldn't be getting therapy. When we tried to explain the truth, she just cut us off and kept saying that she wasn't informed of that.
My husband and I became very frustrated, We were trying to explain the situation and the changes, but she just didn't care. She repeated over and over that she didn't know what was going on and that they would have a meeting, and that we should just wait and see what happens in the meeting. She kept saying "I'm just one vote, so even if I say no..." I asked why she was against it and she said that she thought they "needed to be implanting responsibly". I told her that there were tons of centers that implanted pre-lingually deaf signers and she indicated that she thought they shouldn't be.
Eventually the conversation deteriorated and I left in a huff. I was so hurt and outraged that this woman wanted to deny my child the gift of hearing. She just kept saying "It can wait", she even went so far as to say "You waited 5 years, a few more weeks won't matter". That is when I lost it. I told her that was blatantly untrue. I told her that the moment that Miss Kat's hearing loss became severe that I was in that office asking for information about an implant. I said "Don't you dare imply that we don't want this. I was here the second she was eligible." I told her that Miss Kat's loss was progressive and that she has NOT been deaf since birth and that she has only been unable to effectively use aids for a few months. She is not a classic, pre-lingually severe-profoundly deaf child at this age. She has experienced hearing, and listening.
Nothing changed in the meeting, but I am still happy I told her what I thought. I made it clear that I knew she was doing it because Miss Kat signs. I am attending the CI committee meeting, it is October 28th. I want to hear what these people will be saying about my child. I think that my attendance will help make sure it is unbiased.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Update
Bunny is up and playing now. She really bounced right back from surgery. The little ones handle it so much better than we grown ups....
Oh, and now that Miss Kat has her surgeons license everyone is our house is getting CI's. The latest patient was her pig. I think the pig must be post-lingually deafen because he oinks like a hearing pig.
Oh, and now that Miss Kat has her surgeons license everyone is our house is getting CI's. The latest patient was her pig. I think the pig must be post-lingually deafen because he oinks like a hearing pig.
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