Gah....tomorrow is THE day! Activation Day! I'm so nervous.I couldn't sleep last night :( I'm so ready to do this, but yet so nervous as well. I'm hoping I won't have too much of an adjustment since I already have the one ear, but several Envoy folks are telling me to be prepared for just as much of an adjustment as the first ear. I'm excited to experience 'stereo sound' and a little embarrassed to admit that I actually had to Google what that was. LOL. I think because I know I have the other ear done, I'm tired of working out of one ear.
I've also decided to address the almost 10 million folks on YouTube in a video that my best friend will be willing to film tomorrow when I get activated. A while back they (YouTube folks) kept asking for me to post another video and I said when I hit 9 million I would. (Not realizing I'd hit it that fast) I've put it off and put it off because I have no idea what to say or how to express my gratitude to all those people! Time to do it though. Channel 11 will be putting together something to air with their footage and the documentary folks will be using the activation footage in their short they are making. As nervous as I am, I'm also equally excited. Just want today to fly by! Think cleaning will make that happen? *said in sarcastic tone* :)
In other news, if you haven't seen the KONY2012 video, look it up! I was contacted by one of the producers last night asking for permission to use my clip in this awesome short they've made. It apparently went viral and the Oprah Winfrey Network has picked it up and will air it! It's 29 minutes long and very touching. Really, take 29 minutes out of your day and watch it. It makes an impact and is taking off like wildfire! A friend of mine contacted me with the idea to do a benefit concert for KONY2012............I'm hoping it's a 'go'. That would be an awesome thing to be able to help in some way.
Well guys, I'll blog more later tonight.........as I'm sure I'll be up late ;) I can't think right now. Lol.
Much love,
Sarah
Im so happy to hear this! Your video on youtube of hearing yourself for the first time was amazing :) i wish you the best of luck!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy for you. I hope the second implant brings you as much joy as the first one apparently did!
ReplyDeleteWill be looking forward for an update. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsOo3jzkhYA
DeleteI'm not sure what that's supposed to mean.
Deletei found your youtube video (and blog address) from the KONY2012 video. what an amazing video!
ReplyDeletebest of luck tomorrow :)
That must have been the most awesome exhilarating feeling in the world hearing the for the first time :) Definitely a life changer! Just wanted to say congrats even though its hard to put in words how important something like this is! And wow 10 million views on youtube that's impressive!
ReplyDeleteI have nothing more to say than I cried with you when I saw the video on youtube. I am so happy for you and for your "new" experience of life ! And seriously I am happy to write something to you by your blog. Can't wait to see the next video you'll post. I wish you best of luck with the second implant, may it be nice for you.
ReplyDeleteFirst I have to be honest and say that I found your video through KONY2012. When I saw the snippet of your video I read the title and I thought, "how cool and exciting that must be to finally be introduced to one of your senses." My mom is fluent in sign and worked with deaf people for a long time before I was born, and I was always astonished at the stories she would tell me. So when I saw your title, it was a shoe-in that I was going to watch it and oh my gosh, that had to have been the most moving minute and a half I have ever witnessed, all without you barely saying a word. I cried for both that video and of the Ellen clip. Without being too repetitive, all I can say is CONGRATULATIONS and how happy I am for you and your family. I hope you enjoy every thunderstorm, laugh, bubble wrap pop, the sound of the needle of your next tattoo (if you get one) :) and every other magical sound that even at the age of twenty, I may already take for granted. Once again Congratulations and best of luck tomorrow. I can't wait to watch your new video.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Ethan B
Sarah, In seeing your clip I realized the Invisible Children folks included it because of a bigger context and a bigger statement. The context that says the progress technology has been able to make in our world brings both the healing and joy visible in your face to the new sensory liberation, as well as the potential for harm as we see in the technologically supercharged killing sprees we see all around us. I just want to thank you for sharing this with us. It helps me understand the potential for good in what I feel like I have to pursue with my career. I would enjoy working towards engineering solutions like your cochlear implant and other sensory prosthetic applications around the world as tech continues is journey into the future. In the mean time we have to work with the tools we have to make life better for everyone on Earth and I think thats why they put your video in the short. I'd love to find out more about the device and the research behind it, thanks for sharing the info on it.
ReplyDeleteThanks and good luck in the new world of sound. Check out soundcloud and spotify to get invovled in the social networks founded on sharing music and sounds. I produce some electronic music on soundcloud under DJ_Nanobot, check it out later when I have better tracks to share and you're used to those new gadgets. Maybe I can rig up some tunes optimized for your tech if I can read up on it. Lol, we'll see.
The KONY2012 vid is fabulous - WHAT A MOVEMENT! - and it was cool seeing your clip included in the first part of that.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Do you think of yourself as deaf, anymore? If, I could walk again, I'm don't know what I'd be? You've made me think. http://geekychair.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteIsn't it strange how your video (which had nothing to do with Kony) was one of the top related videos when watching Kony 2012? I find it strange that the 1000's + that are calling out the Kony movement to be a fraud just like Iraq and Afghanistan wars were/are. So funny how Uganda just found a ton of oil reserves and now there is this Hitler-type dictator there we must "save" the people from. I guess the American public will never learn. They just pulled this scam with Libya. Libya was one of the best and most peaceful countries in Africa (and advanced as well) but since Ghaddafi didn't play ball with international bankers, he got the axe, or should I say he literally got the broomstick up the bum like the CNN footage showed the USA's sponsored al qaeda group that over threw this supposed tyrant. When can we go in a 'liberate' the Palestinians from their tyrant neighbor Israel? This nation and those who have fell for all these tricks will reap what we sow around the world. What ever happened to the people that showed in polls on MSNBC and CNN that 2/3's and 70%+ of Americans knew 911 why a complete lie? And that was back in 2006! We shouldn't be engaging in ANY outward action until that issue gets solved!
ReplyDeleteHi, Sarah !
ReplyDeleteToday I fell over your (both) videos. It really shuttered me even only watching your uniquely experience. Wowh... what an emotional moment. I am so happy for you and tks sharing this uniquely experience with the world. It teaches us more than any scientific articles or books about ear's function.
On my own I need my ears heavily, as I became after a total crash of my life (burn out) in 2002 3 years later a radio presenter... producing radio shows for Indian music culture (mainly Indian Classics - www.imcradio.net/archives ) which is a very filigran music. Without my ears I could not do this job.... I could do it not having eyes probably. So I am very aware how important the ears are to get a real orientation (3D) in this world.
I wish you all the best for your future, or maybe like to say: for your 2nd (mono) and 3rd life (stereo). - And dont listen too loud to music ! *laugh*
Warm greetings from Europe/North Germany, Hamburg
TC, ElJay R.