Hi Lisa, Elyse, Vicki and Paula,
I had a wonderful weekend at the CI Retreat. The workshops were great, and I
thoroughly enjoyed hearing and meeting Terry and Denise Portis. I also got
to meet and visit with Denise Jansen (The Original) from CIHear and BHNews.
We had an ice cream social/ luau on Friday night. Then on Saturday we had a
BBQ at the lake in Callaway Gardens. It was wonderful to meet so many CI
recipients and their spouses. Some were doing quite well with their CIs and
others were not hearing all that well. However, there was no one who
regretted their decision. There were people attending from several states in
the area, although most were from Georgia. I even met a couple that lives
right here in my county in south Alabama.
All three of the CI manufacturers had reps there and you could mingle and
ask all the questions you want. The Cochlear audiologist for the region
where I live was there. She knew my audiologist and the doctor I am seeing.
I feel all the better about going with the Nucleus Freedom--assuming I
qualify in July (and I feel certain I will).
This was a nice little mini-vacation that my husband and I sorely needed.
The retreat was over around Noon on Sunday, so we spent Sunday afternoon
touring Callaway Gardens. We stayed Sunday night and on Monday visited
Roosevelt's "Little White House"; at Warm Springs, GA.
I don't know if they have these type of retreats in other sections of the
country, or not, but I certainly hope they do. I would strongly encourage
anyone in the area who has a CI or is a potential candidate to attend the
retreat next year. If at all possible, I plan to be there.
Lynn
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