Something Good

After a month of constant disappointment, I finally have something positive to say! Like I've said before, social situations are the most stressful for me right now. I have great quality hearing in my implanted ear, but it's very hard to filter through background noise. As a result, I get very anxious and HATE being in crowds. Unfortunately, the Bi-CROS system didn't help. I did order a PocketTalker, which is kind of like an FM system, which came in today. It has a microphone that picks up sound right by wherever the device is sitting. I figured it was worth a try. 

 Tonight, my friend Lauren, who is visiting from WA, texted me to say she and a few other friends were going to In-n-Out and a concert at a local wine lounge. I didn't want to go. In-n-Out has terrible acoustics because of the time floors and tile walls. And a concert? I LOVE concerts and was dreading finding out I couldn't enjoy them for 6 months. I really wanted to see Lauren, though...so I went. 

In-n-Out was tough at first BUT the PocketTalker worked! I could hear my friends at the table but without amplifying the background noise like a hearing aid. Then the concert...for the first time in 3 LONG, miserable weeks, I felt normal. I couldn't talk to anyone else but the music sounded fantastic. It really wasn't much different than with two implants. I sat and cried through the show from pure gratitude. It was a wonderful reprieve  

As challenging as this time is, it does NOT negate the fact that the Esteem is a miracle. I'm even more grateful for it now than I was before. Tonight reminded me of how much I enjoy life when I can hear. It's so different and so wonderful. I can't wait to have that again!