DGirl, it's amazing how much has changed in such a relatively short time, isn't it? I'm so glad your experience was better this time, the first must have been rough.
I wanted to add what we saw as the downsides to the CI, as well, from the perspective of a parent whose child is bilaterally implanted (1 year apart).
- general anesthesia / surgery: this is pretty huge. Sure, even though most people are experiencing a return home the same day, with some minor discomfort, the simple fact is that ANY surgery involving my child (from a having a tooth pulled, to a tonsilectomy, from a few stitches on the knee to a cochlear implant) is a major issue, no doubt about it.
- increased risk of meningitis/infection: here's the FDA warning -- it's NOT common at all, but the risk exists at a very slightly higher rate for those with CIs than for those without. The higher risk is specific to those with CIS with positioners implanted before 2003 - and only 1 firm used those, so we mitigated that risk by using another. But introducing anything into the body has its impact, and every person reacts in a unique way. Any insertion of a foreign object can introduce danger of infection.
- potential damage to hair cells within cochlea: we're thinking ahead to the future, and don't want to close any windows or opportunities to utilize other technologies or therapies (hair cell regeneration)
- learning curve for listening: our daughter had been without sound input for her first 18 months plus in utero input -- that's almost 3 critical learning/development years to make up
- adapting to the equipment: there's a lot of it, from processors to batteries to coils and magnets and remote controls, and there's the wearing of it -- she hated and often threw her HAs, so we worried that she would refuse her processors (she didn't, lucky us).
- upgrading the technology: negotiating with insurance companies or paying out of pocket to keep that tech up to date.
I should just note quickly that I think the benefits far outweigh the risks, and would rather not 'pile on' when the downsides are usually given far more air time in this forum, but for the purpose of this thread, wanted to give you the side you ask for 
. We'd do it again (and did) if faced with the choice.
The following shots are:
- Li-Li just before surgery
- Morning after surgery, just after removing the bandage
- Li-Li arriving home , morning after surgery
