We spent all of January driving
Everly to all kinds of appointments. It was worth it because at the end of the
month we received great news that she is officially a candidate for cochlear
implants!
We spent most of February working with our doctors to get the surgery request submitted to our insurance. After we received approval from insurance, we also went through a lot to get the surgery dates booked!
As I write it down it doesn't seem like much. But these past two months have been incredibly busy....many many appointments, lots of phone calls and persistent follow-ups to doctors offices and insurance companies, and not to mention the emotional highs and lows that go along with this process.
We are pleased to say that Everly's first surgery will happen on March 31st. And her second surgery will happen on May 28th.
Everly will be 9 1/2 months when she receives her first implant and just shy of her first birthday for the second implant. This is very encouraging, and we are excited to move onto the next steps in this journey.
I want to explain the process a bit so that everyone understands the progression for Everly for the next few months. Everly will not be able to hear automatically right after the surgery. It is a quite an involved process to get the implants turned on and then mapped correctly for her to be able to utilize her implants. This happens two or three weeks after each surgery. Once the programming, or mapping, is completed, then we will continue therapy to teach Everly how to listen. It's a bizarre concept to try and explain. However, she will not listen or hear the same as typical hearing kids. The implant stimulates the brain in a different way therefore the brain needs to learn how to hear. More on this process as we go through it. But my main point is, the surgery is not the end. It's only the beginning.
Everly is the happiest baby. Her little personality is developing every day. She makes lots of sounds, has really good eye contact, and plays like any typical eight-month-old. I know the sooner we can get sound into her little brain, the sooner she will be able to express her own language.
We spent most of February working with our doctors to get the surgery request submitted to our insurance. After we received approval from insurance, we also went through a lot to get the surgery dates booked!
As I write it down it doesn't seem like much. But these past two months have been incredibly busy....many many appointments, lots of phone calls and persistent follow-ups to doctors offices and insurance companies, and not to mention the emotional highs and lows that go along with this process.
We are pleased to say that Everly's first surgery will happen on March 31st. And her second surgery will happen on May 28th.
Everly will be 9 1/2 months when she receives her first implant and just shy of her first birthday for the second implant. This is very encouraging, and we are excited to move onto the next steps in this journey.
I want to explain the process a bit so that everyone understands the progression for Everly for the next few months. Everly will not be able to hear automatically right after the surgery. It is a quite an involved process to get the implants turned on and then mapped correctly for her to be able to utilize her implants. This happens two or three weeks after each surgery. Once the programming, or mapping, is completed, then we will continue therapy to teach Everly how to listen. It's a bizarre concept to try and explain. However, she will not listen or hear the same as typical hearing kids. The implant stimulates the brain in a different way therefore the brain needs to learn how to hear. More on this process as we go through it. But my main point is, the surgery is not the end. It's only the beginning.
Everly is the happiest baby. Her little personality is developing every day. She makes lots of sounds, has really good eye contact, and plays like any typical eight-month-old. I know the sooner we can get sound into her little brain, the sooner she will be able to express her own language.
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All bundled up in Colorado
Happy girl
She's a great eater!
"I'm stuck!"
Already a pro shopper at Target
Playtime outside
Riding the train at the Spectrum
She loves riding in her red car
Yay!!!!!!!! Go Everly!!!!!! Great work Mama and Dad! We are here for you guys - love the update and photos 💕
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