I have a date for try #2 at this implant thing: July 18th. We're still working out the details - there's some discussion that the docs might try traching me under sedation, but before I go far enough under that I stop breathing spontaneously. Alternatively, CIs have been implanted a few times before under just a local anesthetic - to be honest, I prefer this idea, in part because I'd spend less time in the hospital. The other part is that I think that being at least semi-conscious for the whole surgery could be a way cooler experience (even if I am mostly out of it either way), but I've been told that this is a somewhat disturbing thought process. As one person lovingly put it: "You're disgusting, you know that?"

Now I'm working on finding someone who can guide me through the auditory rehab, which will last about six months - possibly more, depending on how things go. Although my speech perception should return to it's pre-surgical levels within a month or two, the end goal is obviously better speech perception than before, so this is important. I have a few leads close to campus that I'm following up on (if the MBTA has followed through on some plans they told me about this spring, I could take a 5 minute subway ride to therapy after class!). Sadly, none of the places I'm looking at seem to have non-phone contact information available to the public. Granted, they all have TTY numbers, but the TTY is going the way of the dodo, and a lot of people don't have one, yours truly included. None of them have publicly available email addresses, video phones (seriously, WTF? I realize most CI patients don't rely on ASL alone, and many don't know it at all, but it'd be a nice gesture), or IM contacts. Get with the program, guys!

Anyway. Current mood: excited.