My Cochlear Implant Story, Part One.

I have a pretty little clay bowl that my mom's friend Sonny gave me last year. It took me a while to figure out how best to use it because it's too precious to dirty up with food. It finally landed on top of my dresser, as a catch-all for my jewelry, which I take off nightly. I also keep my eyeglasses and hearing aids in it. 

On Sunday night, I dropped my right hearing aid in it for the final time. 

The following morning, I was up at 4am, waiting to be picked up by my dad and sister, ready to take me to NYU for what seemed to be the next logical step in this journey I've been on since I was born. 

5:40am, NYC

A video posted by The Real Nani (@the_real_nani) on May 9, 2016 at 2:33am PDT

Someone was a little freaked out about her #cochlearimplant surgery! #deaf

A photo posted by The Real Nani (@the_real_nani) on May 10, 2016 at 3:07pm PDT

By 7:15, I was in the OR, with a mask over my face and counting down to sleep. 

I woke up some hours later with a huge bandage over my right ear, to a friendly nurse offering me water for my parched throat. 

Day I after #cochlearimplant surgery ain't pretty but not as bad I thought. No pain meds yet, up and about but mostly in bed.

A photo posted by The Real Nani (@the_real_nani) on May 10, 2016 at 3:16pm PDT

Day2: Recovery is always better with a fat cat to keep you company. #cochlearimplant #catsofinstagram

A photo posted by The Real Nani (@the_real_nani) on May 11, 2016 at 6:42am PDT

I guess I'll call this Cochlear Implant: Part One. The surgery was a huge step but it's not the most important step. That comes about a month from now, when the device is activated. As nerve-wracking as surgery is, it pales in comparison to the anxiety of waiting to find out what kind of effect, if any at all, the surgery will have.

Some things about how I'm feeling:

1. When I burp, my ear pops. 
2. I'm not supposed to blow my nose vigorously during the initial recovery period. Anyone who knows me knows this is impossible for me. But the stars have aligned this week, and I've suffered no allergy attacks since coming home, and therefore, have no need to blow my nose. 
3. I wore no hearing aid at all for the first day or so of being home. I don't know why. The silence was nice, though I'm sure it was annoying for everyone around me. 
4. My bandage very quickly become a security blanket of sorts. I was hesitant to take it off and afraid of what would be underneath. 
5. But I did take it off, on day 2, with Henry's help. My ear is banged up, bruised and swollen but not nearly as monstrous as I thought it might look. When it looks prettier, I'll show you a picture. 
6. On Day 2, I was able to putter around a bit before feeling light-headed and going back to bed. Today, Day 3, I made lunch for the kids, and put together end-of-year gifts for the hebrew school teachers before I had to go back to bed. Progress. 
7. Right now, the tip of my ear is numb and the inside of my ear feels stiff. But I don't feel much pain, just soreness and discomfort. 
8. I was sent home with Vicodin which is always fun. I've taken it twice so far, to help me sleep. 
9. With or without the Vicodin, all this napping is giving me some funky dreams, and not really pleasantly funky either. 
10. For the next few weeks, my brain will have no input from the right ear, not that it had much to begin with. Then, there'll be lots of input. We'll see how that goes. 
11. Bonus: While I was writing this, I got an email from my audiologist with an order form attached, asking what kind of equipment I wanted and in what color.  I guess it's time to countdown to activation day. 

PS I know some of you wanted to know why and how I made this decision, but that's another blog post and I'll do it, promise. xo