I am 100% deaf without my cochlear implant. I was the first child in Michigan to get a cochlear implant 1987. My mom raised enough money for me and two other kids to get the cochlear implant surgery and the cochlear implant in 1987!!
I spent most of my life in mainstreamed classrooms. My family was proud of me when I graduated with a mater degree.
I CHOOSE to work! I CHOOSE to have benefits. My insurance will only cover 1/2 of the cochlear implant cost. A cochlear implant cost roughly between $15,000-$20,000. I make way too much money to qualify for Medicaid. I don’t want to be on Medicaid. If you have Medicaid, your cochlear implant is covered 100%! According to my insurance, it’s not considered a medical necessity. I am not rich. I don’t come from a family of money. I work for it! I’m so frustrated that I have to wait and pay off my current CI before I can get an upgrade to a newer one to have better quality hearing. I can’t even get a stupid part or batteries until it’s paid off. I have around $5,000 left to go.
I didn’t choose to be deaf. But I CHOOSE to keep fighting this fight and I am determined to hear!! The reason why I started this post was because my phone clip is no longer working. I wanted to use it to listen to music as I run. But I have to pay off this implant before I can even get this little piece of equipment. Not to mention , my hearing quality has declined and the battery life isn’t as long as they used to be.
Hearing is a blessing. It should not be taken for granted. Be thankful. Be grateful. Be honored that you have a gift to hear.
If you would like to make a 100% donation, please feel free to send me donation through Venmo or Pay Pal. You can always fb message me for the details.
Thank you for helping me make my dream come true! To hear the beautiful sounds of joy!