It's Official! I am a BEA Mentor.

The BEA is the Bionic Ear Assocation through Advanced Bionics. Advanced Bionics, for those of you that don't know, is the brand of implant Cormac uses. They have done so much for our family. When it came time to make a decision on which brand to chose for Cormac we went with Advanced Bionics because Frank and I felt their technology was the best.

Cormac was lucky enough to be enrolled in a bilateral study when it was his time to be implanted. This is why Cormac was able to receive bilateral simultaneous implants. Most kids don't get two at once. We were truly blessed.

I remember being told Cormac was deaf and feeling so lost in the world. I didn't even know at the time two hearing people could have a deaf child. I didn't even know what cochlear implant was. There was so much we didn't know. Now, three years later, well I have become very educated on implants, AV therapy, rights of children with hearing loss. You know, everything I ever need to know to make sure Cormac succeeds and gets all that he needs and is entitled to.

I think becoming a mentor for the BEA is just one small way to give back. If by talking to one Mom or Dad and letting them feel like things will be OK I will have helped. I remember feeling totally helpless when Cormac was a baby. I cried so many times over what his future would be. We know now that anything is possible in his future. Nothing will hold him back. There is nothing he cannot accomplish.

We owe all of this to the amazing technology that exists in the world we live in. Cochlear implants are amazing devices that give people not only the ability to hear but to also have their own voice. Cormac's voice is the sweetest voice I have ever heard. The things he says to me on a daily basis are miracles when it comes down to it. If he was born in a different generation he would not be singing songs all day. He would not be leading his class performances in his mainstream preschool.

We are forever thankful for Advanced Bionics and all the wonderfully, smart people who ever even thought it was possible to let deaf people hear....

If you want to view my profile click here