First e-mail to the Family

Jeff sent this email to the family on June 14 to let us know about his very first experiences with the implant. (The following is the exact text of his email, with all of his own text emphasis intact.)

Hi Everybody!!!!!!!!!

Dang, it really works!!!!!!!!! Unbelievable!!!!.....................What I’m experiencing right now definitely exceeded my expectations……..no “Micky Mouse or Donald duck” noises like I heard with my first implant in the right ear. I actually can hear sounds that “sound normal” to me and it is very exciting and very emotional ……..jeez, talk about a “life changing experience” ……….man, how sweet it is!!!!!!!!!!! Thank god for Technology……..this stuff really works!!!

Of course, it doesn’t even come close to normal “hearing” but I guarantee you that its far better than anything my hearing aid provided……..what a relief!!!! (to tell you the truth, I was a little nervous about the outcome but I never doubted that this would work…….that’s the “optimist” in me). I can’t wait until by brain fully becomes accustomed to this new “artificial hearing” that the C.I. provides …..gosh, I might even be to join in future sing-alongs without being out of tune……how neat that would be!!! But to be realistic, I’ll probably need anywhere from 3 months to a year before I realize the full potential of this wonderful new “bionic ear”………My goal is to be able to one day have conversations with others without having to rely on lip-reading. Goodness, I may even be able to converse with you all on a new fangled cellphone without having to go thru RELAY….that would certainly be icing on the cake huh? !!!!!!

I’m going back to the audiologist this afternoon to get another tune-up……….I have 8 different MAPs and have been trying them out in different scenarios…… My brain has already gotten accustomed to them and now I’m ready to CRANK IT UP!!!!! ……………….WoooooooooooWeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!! Watch out……..here I come……the BIONIC MAN!!!!!!! ……no more talking behind my back now……..I just might be able to “hear” ya………..just kidding. Man oh man, I’m certainly glad I went thru this cuz it was definitely the right move!!!!!!!! I’m so grateful and very relieved that I still have “something” left in my left ear……..talk about sweet auditory memory!! Yippppeeee!!

Jeff the “Bionic Man”