A Miracle

This week has been one of extreme thankfulness. It has been a year since my Olivia got her Cochlear Implant. After 6 months of waiting and wondering, our dream to let our baby hear became a reality. It was a scary decision, but nonetheless has been a blessing in our lives. She turns when we call her name. She now says "mama, dada, baby, socks, shoes, bye-bye, Emma, love you" and many others. She has made remarkable progress even after an unexpected surgery in August. We worried it might put her back some, but she is stubborn and was not going to let anything get in her way. She attends a preschool that helps her to learn her sounds and better communicate with speech and sign. We also see two wonderful therapists once a week, and they both are great with her. I explain to people exactly what her implant does, but I know it is difficult to understand without truly seeing it. So here is a little implant 101 class.

How cochlear implants work:
1. Sound processor: External sound processor captures sound and converts it into digital signals.
2. Digital signals: Processor sends digital signals to internal implant.

3. Electrode array: Internal implant converts signals into electrical energy, sending it to an electrode array inside the cochlea.
4. Hearing nerve: Electrodes stimulate hearing nerve, bypassing damaged hair cells, and the brain perceives signals as sound."

Isn't this a miracle? Truly it is. I know.