my CI progress

cdmeggers

cdmeggers

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FINALLY! Dr. Kelsal has approved of the CT scan step (I'm self-paying for everything right now, have no insurance but am still researching insurances and funding solutions; Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance plans that INCLUDES CI coverage is too expensive for me I can't afford them). Rocky Mountain Ear Center has sent a CT scan order to a local imaging center, so hopefully I'll hear from the imaging center soon to make an appointment, and get the CT scan done! Then make an appointment to see Dr. Kelsall to go over the CT scan results and that sort of thing, and this visit should be free of charge which is helpful. From there, hopefully for sure I'll know if it's possible to have the left (dead) ear done (depending on how much ossification there is). Would probably take longer for the implant to really work for the left ear (21 years of no sound in left ear), but if there's a chance of getting sound in my left ear, I'd rather do the left ear and leave right ear (with residual hearing) alone, and have sound coming into both ears. Who knows, the left implant may even help boost sounds more so that I can understand speech better again, who knows.

I think my dad's started researching on funding solutions. Right now I'm just selling stuff on half.ebay.com to bring in some money for my implant fund (to pay for CT scan, hearing test, appointments, etc.). Once I have everything done, I WILL fill out the application and apply to the CNI's Cochlear Implant Assistance Program (which Dr. Kelsall has helped to set up) and hope they accept my application and donate the implant device (will still have to pay for hospital/surgical bills myself though, but $15-20,000 is better than $100,000!). Things are very slowly coming together.
 
wow, thats brave of you to step in and co pay for it... I wish you all the best of luck.
 
thats all I can do right now, but I'm still researching funding solutions. I want to at least get the CT scan and any other testings done so I can apply for the CNI CI Assistance Program and hope they'll donate the implant, that would help big time. Have to have all that pre-CI stuff done before I can apply, as the program wants the notes and results from the doctor and CI audie.
 
Looks like you have some hard work ahead of you! But those are still great news right? And I am sure you will have more than just one person here on AD to support you! :D (if only with words...)

I wish you all the best luck and strenght you will need to get through this!

Keeping fingers (and toes :giggle:) crossed for you!

*big hug* Jamie
 
That's good news!

I know someone who received a CI in an ear that had no hearing for 30 years. She's now able to talk on the phone and use her CI to the fullest extent possible.

Each of us is different in terms of our CI progress, but I thought I'd share that with you as a note of encouragement.

Please continue to keep us updated on how your CI journey progresses.
 
Thanks guys! I'm just anxious to keep going on the CI path, after being sidetracked for MORE than a year since the CI evaluation (things have been crazy in the last year). :)
 
cdmeggers said:
Thanks guys! I'm just anxious to keep going on the CI path, after being sidetracked for MORE than a year since the CI evaluation (things have been crazy in the last year). :)
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Hope the ball rolls down fast soon!

Do you have medicare? Try getting Aetna Medicare. They paid for my CI 100%. I'm not sure if they have tightened up the rules due to economy. I think they have low premiums.

Good luck!! We all are here for you!
 
Meggers, weren't you a toddler when you went deaf? If so, that should give you a huge advantage, since your brain still remembers how to process sound....that is you wouldn't have to start from scratch.
 
Best of luck to you cdmeggers. I hope you find the funding you are looking for. I also applaud your determination to make this happen for yourself.
 
yeah I was 2.

I'm still figuring out the insurance business. I don't know how medicare works, but the BCBS Insurance guy that was doing research mentioned that if I had the disabled medicare, I could get the BCBS plan that covers the implant at a discount, but I have no clue how to go around that. Well, now that I know what that message on the answering machine was all about, I'll have to investigate some more.
But an Advanced Bionics audiologist is going to send me information on some funding resources or something like that (we chatted a bit in the hearingjourney.com chat tonight), and uh... I finally got a response from someone at the.. Gift of Hearing Foundation I believe it was (she and I had been in contact last year about funding and I lost focus on the implant for a long while). :)
 
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Well that was fast! Have the CT scan appointment set up already, for MONDAY, March 23 at 11 a.m. Will cost me $509 since I'm uninsured, so I've already withdrawn the money from my savings account. Awesome!
 
cdmeggers said:
Well that was fast! Have the CT scan appointment set up already, for MONDAY, March 23 at 11 a.m. Will cost me $509 since I'm uninsured, so I've already withdrawn the money from my savings account. Awesome!
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Awesome! :)

IF you are considering Cochlear - have you considered contacting Cochlear to see if they have some sort of foundation to give CI packages to those who are uninsured and highly motivated?

I haven't really checked, but doesn't hurt to try. Maybe AB has one as well.

that should help defray the costs.
 
an AB audiologist is going to send me some funding information or something, I forget exactly what. I've already chosen AB (been researching the implants since I was in high school and have looked at all 3 companies). Am also in contact with the founder of the Gift of Hearing Foundation, and we're working on figuring out the financial aspect of the process, and working with the CNI Cochlear Implant Assistance Program. my CI team are all aware I'm working towards applying to the CNI program as they will donate the implant, and are helping me get the CT scan and any other tests done so I can actually apply. Dr. Kelsall started the program and is very well familiar with the program application process so he's been approving the CT scan and such.

Mom's cool with the whole thing, just has been extremely worried about how I would be able to cover the costs, but I've told her of the founder of Gift of Hearing working with me on the funding and such. and my dad's happy to hear I'm slowly getting things figured out.
 
CT scan done. Now just need to figure out WHEN I can make my way down to Denver for the hearing test and to se Dr. Kelsall about the CT scan results and such. With mom and stepdad both busy for most of May (soonest Ear Center can get me in is May 5, and I WANT to take that appointment but blah), ... bah. A friend in Cheyenne has offered to drive me to Denver if I can get myself down to Cheyenne, which I'm sure I can do. Cheyenne seems more manageable, while Denver is just downright scary to me. I really don't want to have to wait until JULY for mom and stepdad to be able to get time off from their jobs and take me (I know mom would probably want to be around for the appointment with Dr. Kelsall so she knows what's going on). Will have to discuss this with mom later whenever I get home from work, but blah. July is just too far off I think. The implant is more important to me.. I know their jobs are important to them but, seriously. I hate being such a wuss about driving out of state.


You know what.. I'm just going to go ahead and take the May 5 date for the hearing test and seeing Dr. Kelsall. I can get myself down to Cheyenne, and then meeting a friend there and the 2 of us going to Denver together. She works for the state department of education, and works with the deaf, and has plenty of experiences with kids getting cochlear implants. She fully understands the process. I already talked to my stepdad, and he says I should go for it, that I can get myself to Cheyenne just fine. It's mom that will probably be hesitate but, she'll have to realize I am 23 and growing up, and I can't be dependent on her every time. I wouldn't want to go to Denver alone for any appointments, but this friend being there will be just wonderful.
 
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hearing test and visit with Dr. Kelsall has been set for May 5th! hearing test with CI audie at 11:30 a.m., then see Dr. Kelsall after the testing. gosh darn it! Mom's just going to have to accept the fact that I am an adult.
 
I smiled reading your past few posts. I have a very overprotective mother, and it doesn't help that I live on my own a few states away from her... :) She worries everyday about little things.
 
I still live in the SAME house with her and it drives me bonkers sometimes. But yeah, I'm just going to keep on treking along if I can, with or without her. For the surgery and for a bit afterwards, yeah I'll want her. But for this appointment, eh. I'll be fine without her surely.
 
cdmeggers said:
I still live in the SAME house with her and it drives me bonkers sometimes. But yeah, I'm just going to keep on treking along if I can, with or without her. For the surgery and for a bit afterwards, yeah I'll want her. But for this appointment, eh. I'll be fine without her surely.
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"I'll be fine without her surely." What every mother dreads to hear.... :D
 
Right i was 30 when i was implanted, My mum came over to UK (she lives in Austria) and spent 3 weeks in UK as she was dog sitting for me while i was in Ireland then looked after me for 4 days after my OP, But when it's time for her to go home, she refused to budge out of my house, she almost missed her flight. She was so worried about me... I had to get my neighbour to help me to assure her that i would be fine and my neighbour will give her daily phone calls!! then Mum began to trust her and bawled her eyes out I was like eh! (at this point i had my mum for nearly 3 weeks and i was desperate to have my house back!!) Lucky she made the flight. 2 weeks later she called my neighbour and told her off for not giving daily updates after the first 2 or 3 days! I was FINE!! I emailed her every single day and i am supposed to be recovering from my operation! She wanted me to ask my surgeon to call her in austria to let her know that i am healing fine... I never got him to call her.

Well, it doesn't matter how old you are, or how far you are from your mum.... they STILL worry!
 
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