James the Bionic Baby goes Live!

Finally, after all the appointments, operations, worries and illness, James can hear again!!!

We flew down to Christchirch on Sunday night, and out to the Van Asch Deaf Education Centre. We were staying in one of the flats that they provide for out of town families who are there for appointments, and Cameron was in seventh heaven playing with all the toys that were waiting for him. Poor James has yet another cough, so the night was a little disturbed, but we were up and eager early the next morning. After a wonder around the school, Cameron on his scooter, we stopped at the Library to read until 9am.

The appointment was about an hour long, and involved lots of fiddling around with James' new implants, and setting things on the computer, (There is a wee processor in the ear piece that does all the work.) It also involved lots of funny noises and shaking toys and things on Joanne's belalf, which James found pretty funny.

Then, finally, Neil and Joanne got everything on and operational and set at a level that didn't freak him out, but enough that he could hear sounds again. He was a little bewildered by it all, and i don't think he was quite sure what to make of all the fuss, but there were some distinct responses to sounds, so all is great.

He started to get a little unhappy towards the end of the appointment, but i think it was all the poking and prodding more than the sound that was bothering him. Cameron even got to see us all on TV! (There was a room next door with a one way mirror and a tv with the live feed from the room, so Cameron got to sit with Lynella and munch on his snacks while watching us. He thought it was great!!)

Back to 'Our Other House' to put a very tired little baby to bed, as he was totally exhausted by it all. To be honest, i think John and I were as well!

We went for a bus ride into Sumner that afternoon, again sending Cameron into fits as everything with wheels is the coolest thing ever. James seemed quite happy with his new hearing, not responding a huge ammount but talking to himself ten to the dozen. It seems wee James loves the sound of his own voice! I wonder who he gets that from?

The next morning we were back for another appointment, to re-set the implants again now he had gotten used to the sound over night. More prodding, and James was a little less tollerant of it second time round, but everything was set again, and everyone was very pleased with the whole thing.

We were told to be aware that James now hears, but he hears like a new born. We have to realise that he won't suddenly laugh at us, or turn to our voices, as he has to learn how to hear. Just like a new baby needs to learn what each sound is, and what they mean, so he has to now. But luckily, he only has a gap of 5 months between real age and hearing age, as opposed to the poor wee kids not picked up until 1, 2 or even 3 years old. He is a very lucky little man, thanks to Lynella's pushing the issue until something was done.

So, back to Wellington again (another flight for Cameron to rave about) then straight to the docters for James again, as he was very feverish and unhappy. Nothing to do with the implants though - just bad timing as James has yet another viral thing. We just can't seem to get better from the first, then another hits. Roll on summer!