Reminded Of My Status

Cyborg: a person whose physiological functioning is aided by or dependent upon a mechanical or electronic device.

At times I forget that I am a Cyborg. An organism that has both artificial and natural systems. Hearing with only the aid of a surgically implanted cochlear device. A manufactured device that only functions as a hearing replacement when the processor is magnetically attached. We CI people truly fit the definition.
I am ever reminded of this fact at night when I remove the magnet and "power down" for the nights REM and assorted other stages that occur in my eight or less horizontal hours on a mattress.

At times I take for granted that my hearing is artificial. I am getting used to this new world, I suspect, as it allows my mind to be tricked into a false sense of "hearing" once again.
Night time is the ever daily reminder of my new cyborg status, as it plunges me back to reality as I remove my "rally cap" for the night.
Battery issues are another. The re-chargeable batteries allow for twelve hours of artificial hearing. When they die at around 6 in the evening, I plunge into darkness once again. I go "under water" if you will. I announce to who ever happens to be involved in my attention that I have "gone under", and quickly fumble for one of my spares that I carry with me at all times.
"I'm back on the air" I then announce to all that cares.

This past weekend was another reminder of the frailty of man made devices. A jolting reminder of my cyborg status.

We were having a family birthday dinner in celebration of my Mother-in-law's 80'th. Janet's family were to gather at our house for the afternoon, followed by a dinner in our favorite local Bistro. I was excited because the last time I saw many of these people, I was in cone of silence. Deaf as a three bean salad.

The first group had just arrived and I was sitting enjoying conversation on a very humid day. Suddenly the sound shifted to a low, almost inaudible rumble. Speech could not be discerned by any means. I quickly changed from program one to program three. Nothing.
I took off t mic and changed to my original internal mic. With reservation of course because my t mic has given my so much more in comprehension. Switching back to my internal mic is akin to driving a BMW for a while, then going to a Chevrolet Aveo. It still drives, but man it is not the same.

About twenty minutes into new, but not as good, "sound", the whole shooting match quit working! Without warning, I was plunged into silence.
Battery check, mic check, all good. I quickly grabbed trouble shooting guide and read for the first time.
Everything I did, gave me no results.
Nothing doing.
I even pulled out (reluctantly) my replacement head processor and fitted it onto mic.
Nothing
Damn! Family meal in half and hour, and me under water.

After some urgently sent questions to a cochlear implant forum site that I go on frequently to ask questions, I ascertained that humidity was the issue.
I put the rally cap to "bed" in my " Siemens Stay Dri Hearing Aid Dehumidifier"
This is the jar where my mic and head piece sleep when I sleep.It removes moisture from the working stuff I guess.
The humidity it seems killed the machine that had restored me back to hearing life. It does not like moisture it would appear!

So I ate dinner with 12 good people in silence, while my CI head piece lay in a pillow of drying out stuff.
I watched the crowd in silence and was even a little "sulky" in my silence.
They laughed and talked the night away. While I read lips where I could.
I struggled with waitress when ordering as she asked the obligatory "soup or salad, mashed or baked, coffee or tea" , questions". I needed Janet's help with tough questions where my speech reading failed me.
It was like old times, but not of the happy variety.

It was a reminder of my new status however.

Cyborg!
I was back "on the air" next morning.

Warmly,

David