Here we are in the prerequisite, pre-road trip selfie as we left for Sarah’s hearing aid fitting early Wednesday morning.
As we walked to the appointment, Sarah stopped by this photo and said, “I have sure seen this photo a lot of times over the years.” It’s amazing how hospitals can start to become so familiar during and after cancer treatment.
After the picture-admiring, it was on down the hall to the hearing aid-fitting which was quite an interesting process involving the use of a couple of computers to get everything calibrated specifically for her type of hearing loss.
She never had one of those moments you see on YouTube when someone with profound hearing loss hears sound for the first time. Thankfully, her hearing loss was not that severe. However, she got a Bluetooth accessory which allows the hearing aids to act as headphones so that she can play music (or video editing tracks and sounds) straight to her hearing aids. She DID do the major face lighting up thing when she first heard music playing clearly in her ears.
DAO799 has been her patient number at Duke since she was 6 years old. I got a little teary-eyed looking at it because I remembered all the times I used that number when she was having her cancer treatments.
Her audiologist was great to work with; very patient and personable. He made sure she understood exactly how the hearing aids worked, how to clean them, how to store them, how to change the battery, how to trouble shoot any problems, etc.
One cool thing about her hearing aids is that there is a small button on each side where she can raise or lower the overall volume of a room or a conversation 3 notches.
It was finally time to take one more walk down the long hall toward the parking deck. So thankful she is not a “regular” there anymore.
The hearing aids are so small, they’re really hard to even see. I bet you would never know she was wearing them by looking at this picture!
After a thirteen hour day, it was a delightful sight to cross that final bridge home.
The sky and the water are the best welcome-ers imaginable.
It was an especially good feeling to arrive home knowing that we had accomplished the goal we’ve been working on for almost a year: getting Sarah hearing aids. Woo-hoo!
Special, special thanks to CCCDP for providing the hearing aids for her; the $3,500 price tag would have been way too much for us to afford without their help. All we had to pay for was the fitting fee and the Bluetooth accessory.
Since Sarah would have aged out of that program in less than a month, we were especially thankful we were able to squeak in under the wire.
She seems to be adjusting to the hearing aids much more easily than the first time she tried them although she was rather alarmed on the way home when a bug flew close to her ear and startled her with a super loud buzz. I’m sure she’ll have some more moments like that as she starts to hear some of those sounds she’s been missing.
Sarah went in for her follow-up appointment yesterday concerning the unexplained weight loss she’s been experiencing. She has been trying to be really intentional this past month about eating more calories and drinking her 850-calorie protein shakes; she’s managed to gain two pounds–up to 94 lbs. Ideally, the doctor would like to see her at 100 pounds so she’ll keep working at it.
Sarah has one more follow-up appointment in July so her doctor can take one more look at her before she leaves for college. The main thing we don’t want to happen is for her weight to go the other direction; if we can keep her weight creeping upward, we’ll be happy.
And speaking of college, I got to thinking that I hadn’t mentioned the status of Sarah’s Associate Degree. She didn’t participate in the spring graduation for her degree because she was just short of having enough hours to complete it. She is doing some online summer school and will have all of her credits caught up by the time she enters Regent as a junior.
Writing about graduation reminds me that Sarah has been out of High School two years already. When we moved to Manteo she was in the 8th grade so that tells you how long we’ve been here!
I got all nostalgic thinking about her graduation and so I dug out the video I made for her. It made me cry (and smile) all over again to watch it.
If you would like to have a similar video created for a graduation, a wedding, a funeral, a birthday, a reunion etc. please email me at smithellaneousATyahoo.com for prices and details.
These videos make such great keepsakes and the best part is they don’t have to be stored, dusted or organized. Play them on your DVD player or on your computer and keep your memories right at your fingertips!
Before I close, I’ll share a sneak preview from Monday’s post. I always KNEW he was a good catch!
$3,500 is usually closer to the cost for just one hearing aid. it is QUITE a shame that most insurances don’t cover them. How is she doing in a group situation when several folks are talking at once?.
loved seeing BEAUTIFUL Sarah’s video again.
Mrs. Pam,
Hearing aids are definitely expensive and yes, it would be great to have them covered by insurance!
She hasn’t been in a real noisy situation yet but seemed quite comfortable talking with people in our church lobby this morning.
Had seen the video before, but had to watch it again – this time with tears in my eyes. Thank you Jesus for what you’ve done for Sarah. Thank you Becky for all the hours you spent with Sarah and how hard it was on you to see your daughter go through this. Know the Lord is continuing to be with each of you and may His blessings be poured upon you. Enjoy your hearing aids Sarah!
Sharyn,
I love watching that video–such joy to think of the way we were sustained through all the ups and downs of her journey.
Hey, I have hearing aides that are Bluetooth and I love them. I can pair them to any Bluetooth device. I have molded hearing aides and a Bluetooth device that controls answering and hanging up. It also controls the volume of hearing aides. The antenna is around my neck and connected to Bluetooth device. I hope Sarah continues to like the hearing aides. Tell her to watch the volume because when you get in church and begin the music and singing she will want to turn the volume down or she will get her head blown off her shoulders!!! I can help her on a few points that I may have earned. Oh, Sarah can pair her new computer to her hearing aides.
Jim,
Yes, Sarah did the controller that goes around her neck for Bluetooth. She hasn’t played around with it a lot yet but she knows it will come in handy.
Sounds like you’ve got the tricks of the trade down pat!
Wow! You moved to Manteo that long ago??? Seems like only 3 years, maybe. I remember the chaos of that time, how stressful it was for you all. It turned out to be a very good move!!! Are you hoping to remain in Manteo through your ‘golden years’?
Lesley,
Yes, we came here in September 2009–kind of hard for me to believe. And to think I was diagnosed with breast cancer just 6 months after getting here; that was a pretty stressful season!
We would like to stay in Manteo until in retirement–and hopefully beyond. We truly love it here.
Awesome!!!!
Jenna
Thank you! I was so glad to read that you were able to get to church for a little while this morning. Hooray and hallelujah!
When my mom got her hearing aids she said “Now I know why you told me to ‘click the mouse here’ on the computer. It really makes a click sound!”
Patti,
That’s funny! Yep, it DOES make a sound!
The video is so precious and the song is awesome. The picture in the grass with the typewriter reminds me of “Murder She Wrote.” So happy she has the hearing aids and the Bluetooth. Jim enjoys his Bluetooth with his. So proud of Sarah and her progress. The Smiths will always be special to us.
Ann,
I love that picture of her with the typewriter, too. It suits the old-fashionedness that is Sarah.
Glad Jim has enjoyed having Bluetooth; it will be fun for Sarah to start learning about how all that works.
So proud of Sarah for forging ahead and getting the hearing aids.
Loved the photo of you two crazy kids! 🙂 Love you Smiths!
Deb
Deb,
Who are you calling a kid, KID? 🙂
And we’re only half-crazy–Steve’s half, that is.
Beautiful Lady! Loved seeing the video again. It reminded me how long the Smiths and Hawleys have been sharing the journey. Thanking God for the beautiful pictures of Sarah’s Victory….Life!
Sheri,
Yes, we have (thankfully) been sharing the journey for a very, very long time. And think of all the journey-sharing that is yet ahead of us? I’m looking forward to it!
You need to come to Cambridge and see the hospital picture for real! It looks like the Chapel at Kings College to me! Down the road…anytime you like…
Wendy,
Don’t EVEN tempt us! 🙂
She got Phonaks! That’s what I have, and I love them. I’m guessing hers are like mine…they start out at about 70% of their ability and slowly, over about 4 months, work themselves up to 100%. That way the user doesn’t get that annoying “hearing every little thing and I can’t stand it!” feeling, which causes a lot of people to throw them into a drawer and forget about them. There was no learning (or adjustment) curve with them; they had me at “Hello.” And, by the way, there are a little + and – at the bottom of my Com-pilot (the bluetooth thingy) that turn the volume up and down. If hers is the same, they’re much easier to use than the little buttons on the over-the-ear pieces.
Welcome to the club, Sarah!
Jan,
Glad to hear you like your Phonaks. Sarah can now be an official member of the Phonak Club!
That’s good to know about the + and – on the Com-pilot. The audiologist may have mentioned that to us but there was so much information, my poor little brain fizzled halfway through.
Oh Sarah, I remember when I first got my hearing aids. I walked into the house and I could hear the furnace running and it sounded like the house was going to take off!!! Whoa!! It took me a few days (several!) to get adjusted and for the sounds to not seem so loud. Now I can’t imagine not having them. I’ve had them for almost 3 years and I don’t have to say ‘What?’ all the time anymore. 🙂
I’m glad your weight is going UP. I’m kind of envious…..I keep trying to get mine to go DOWN. Hard work!
Becky, you and Steve are goofs and I love seeing people have fun. Keep doing that!
Happy Friday!
LeeAnne,
Hearing aids are a miracle all on their own, aren’t they? The difference they make in peoples’ lives is just amazing. So glad to hear that you “made friends” with your hearing aids quickly and that they have become such an important part of your life.
And yep. We love having fun!
Yes it brings tears of joy to see God’s miracle through her life. She is a beautiful young lady and an inspiration to all. May God continue to watch over her. Love her!!
Judy,
Thank you for those encouraging words. She has been blessed to have the Smithellaneous family in her life all these years.