I spent Thanksgiving with my younger sister, her husband, five of my nieces and nephews, and their paternal grandmother.
When I first arrived, I went to the animal hospital where my sister has a private veterinary practice. I greeted the veterinary staff, and went around the back. I could hear a dog barking in the background, a long haired Chihuahua.
I greeted my sister and the other staff. A cat wandered over to greet me.
When I went back around to the desk in the front of the hospital entrance, I met a beautiful well behaved dog, a Dalmatian who I first thought was a stuffed dog, much to the amusement of the veterinary staff. I was assured me the dog was quite real. Her name is Cassie, and I saw her ears perk up. I went over and greeted this beautiful dog, who gently kissed me. I asked if Cassie was deaf, and the staff said no. Cassie is a dog who stays at the veterinary practice during the day and then her owner comes and picks her up. My sister then left to pick up one of her daughters from school, and I told her I'd meet her at the house.
My sister set a beautiful table. Her mother in law made sweet potatoes, pecan pie and a roast pork shoulder that was beyond delicious. We had that along with turkey and some side dishes.
I could follow the conversation around the Thanksgiving dinner table. I could follow conversations and participate. My younger sister only had to repeat one word the entire visit when I misunderstood something someone said.
We each went around the table and said one thing we were thankful for. I said I was thankful for my surgeon who implanted cochlear implants so I could have the gift of hearing, and thankful for hearing bilaterally with two cochlear implants.
My sister's family has a nine month old border collie puppy, who joyfully adopted me. She brought over a squeaky toy that looked like an octopus, and we played some tug of war. She has a deep bark that is huge for her size! She also joyfully greeted me each morning with a face full of kisses. It was nice to get acquainted with a puppy who loves you back unconditionally. My sister says the puppy hasn't yet met a stranger she did not like.
I listened to my 14 year old niece play and sing on her guitar. I listened to all the electronic beeps, boops, and sounds coming from the TV, computers, as they played Wii and other computer games. I watched my other 14 year old niece play with the puppy, and I could her her playful growl as she played her favorite game with my niece.
I had an intelligent conversation with my brother in law and could respond appropriately without misunderstanding what he said.
While outside, I could hear the twittering of flocks of birds as they flew south on their journey before wintry cold weather returned.
This was the first time I made the journey to my sister's home with two cochlear implants and while I did not enjoy driving in busy interstate traffic during the first leg of the journey, I did just fine.
It was a good visit. I got to see how my sister's children have grown. One niece is taller than I am!
Hearing bilaterally with two cochlear implant processors is priceless. I continue to be thankful for my many blessings.
I am still a deaf person who chooses to hear with cochlear implants. My hearing journey and acquiring new "soundflavorings," continues. The difference is, I no longer struggle to hear when I put on my cochlear implant processors.
So, once again, I give thanks.
