I am, by profession an Audiologist…which implies that ears are a major topic in life. Big ones, small ones, deaf ones, pink ones, pales ones, dark ones, hairy ones, dirty, clean, young, old, funny ones and serious ones. My daily schedule is filled with anything and everything concerning a small but extremely complicated and valuable device, one which completely transform lives.

Cochlear Implants.

I have the privilege of working with people who were completely shut out of the hearing world…a melodic life filled with chatting, laughing, bird’s song, music and every other sound that colours life completely removed, switched óff, taken away. The life stories of these people are unique, inspirational and worth a few minutes if you ever meet somebody who is willing to share their journey.

There is a woman I know, a true musician,  born to live a life filled with music. She is a pianist and dedicated her entire life to enhancing her skill and enjoying this (blessed) talent, even studying the piano when the rest became doctors and ingeneers. She however started loosing her hearing at a young age and frantically tried to hide the reality she was facing,  desperately trying to make use of her residual hearing with hearing aids which quite frankly still limited her hearing acuity.

The decision to have a Cochlear Implant (CI) was immense. Listening with a CI is a big challenge initially for various reasons. CI ‘s provide the cochlea (inner ear) with electrical stimulation whereas hearing aids provide acoustical stimulation which means that the same sound input has a totally different output and causes an almost “electrical-robotic” sound for listeners in the beginning.

Now, imagine yourself exchanging the beautiful sound of a well played piano for something as robotic and annoying as this…it is enough to make any person doubt such a large life decision. This lady though, shocked, disappointed and puzzled  made a decision to continue playing her piano day in and day out – retraining her brain and eventually falling in love with the sweet melody of her creations again.

Years have gone by. Last week she was awarded with a very noble prize for her contribution in the lives of handicapped people, she has her own program teaching people with CI’s to enjoy music ánd she happily assists anybody with a CI in their journey. All of this because she never gave up on herself no matter what her circumstances presented her with.

A true inspiration, not only to others with CI’s but touching the lives of so many others with normal hearing as well.

Walking through my garden, passing by the Magnolia who, at the very crane of her blooming season, literally the two weeks which she saves all her energy for all year, her only moment to show her magnificence in all her glory – got trampled on by a late snowstorm. A cloud of pink blooms turned into a sad, brown heap. I didn’t expect too much walking by today, was hoping to see the first leaves atleast. To my surprise, two or three gloriously pink magnolias greeted me. Heaven only knows how they survived when everything else perished that night – they made it, and having made it in the most adverse circumstances made them só much more special. Unique. They had something the others didn’t have – the precious key to the context.