The night before Amanda's hook-up

Here are some photos from today...the day before

Amanda's activation.  It's actually here.  Her hook-up will really happen tomorrow.  

What a journey it's been!  It has taken us so much to get this far.  

        And here it is.  Here we are.  

Amanda has been asking for this moment since she was 10 1/2. She has just turned 14.  All this time.  She didn't waver.  She didn't give up. This is what she's wanted for 3 1/2 years and 

it is now here.  The night before.

 

Amanda has never heard anything.  Never ever. Not once. We wonder how she will respond to her very first sound.

We imagine amazement...then enjoyment...and hopefully with lots of input and practice, understandment.  Yes, I know it's not a word, but it should be!

 

We hope her activation will bring positive results and that she'll be able to incorporate sound into her life in ways that are enjoyable and productive.

The time is almost here.  The first step is only 16 hours and 34 minutes away.

Amanda at DCA-Last video clip before activation

Here is a video clip of Amanda and me at Disney's California Adventure (DCA)  in Anaheim, CA.  It was taken July 27, 2008, two days after Amanda's 14th birthday. We were there smack dab between her cochlear implant surgery and her initial stimulation (also known as hook up or activation.)  We are in line waiting to ride the new ride, Toy Story Mania, for the first time. 

She has been going to DCA ever since it opened February 8, 2001 when she was 6.  She has always enjoyed going to Disneyland and DCA even though she cannot hear anything.  There's certainly an abundance of things to experience through the other senses! When she was 10 she began asking for a CI partly so she could hear the music and the shows at the parks.

She wanted to go for her birthday (See post dated Tuesday, July 29, 2008 for photos) so we decided to videotape some of it to document her last quiet visit to Disneyland and DCA.  I purposely fiddled with the sound alternating between the natural resonance and the soundlessness Amanda has experienced for 14 years.

A Little Silliness-Three Days Before Activation

So, we're waiting VERY IMPATIENTLY for Amanda's CI activation in three days, and a little silliness came over us.  Here is Amanda wearing her Advanced Bionics Monkey's CI processor.  The headpiece is attached with velcro to her hair.

To add to the silliness, Amanda's miniature monkey, Harmony's magnet is attached to her internal magnet.  THREE DAYS.  THREE DAYS and Amanda will have her own behind the ear speech processor after waiting THREE YEARS!  

Exactly one week until CI ACTIVATION!

      

Click on photo to bigify

ONE WEEK until my stepdaughter, Amanda's CI activation and we are BURSTING with anticipation! There have been so many recent activations going on all over causing a tidal wave of excitement!  We can barely contain ourselves.

This photo was taken when Amanda was a student in my preschool class when she was three.  She is the little pink fluff ball in tights in the center of my ten students. They are all 14 now and entering 8th grade.

Gotta go now so we can hurry up and wait for August 12, 2008!

Disneyland/DCA 15 days before Amanda's activation

Here we are at Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure 15 days before Amanda's CI activation date!  FUN DAY!

Here is Amanda with her new pink iPod!

 

Toy Story Midway Mania at Disney's California Adventure-FUN New Ride and one that Joseph could go on!

Amanda is sitting in the first "A" in CALIFORNIA  just outside the entrance to DCA. You can see Disneyland behind her.

Here we are at the Mickey Floral just inside of Disneyland. 

Amanda gets a Birthday iPod

For Amanda's 14th Birthday, she wanted nothing more than a pink iPod.  Once her CI is activated 8/12/08 we'll know a whole lot more than we do now about what kind of music she will like since she's never heard anything.

Here are some photos of our trip today to the 

Apple Store.....and Cheesecake Factory.

 

     Amanda offers a drink                  By a giant pink iPod          

       of water to Joseph                                                        

Some technical  discussion?  

   Gonzálo & Joseph ready                Jennifer & Amanda        

             for dessert                         posing before digging in                              

                                           

                Outside                      Heading home to figure  out 

       Cheesecake  Factory             how to use her new iPod 

Happy 14th Birthday, Amanda!

          
                    Happy 14th Birthday Amanda!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

I took these while Amanda was waiting for a doctor's appointment the day before her birthday. I thought the sillouhette effect of Amanda and her dad was captivating.  Wouldn't you agree?

And Joseph still doesn't have a braided beard like Amanda was discussing while waiting to be called for her CI surgery.  (See Tuesday, July 15, 2008  Amanda's Nervous Energy-Surgery Day.)