We had Kay’s ENT appointment recently, and for the first time in a while, it actually felt… productive. If you’ve been following our journey, you know she sees her ENT every six months, and some visits in the past have felt a bit routine—especially since Kay has been seeing an adult ENT for the last few years due to limited pediatric options. So to walk out of this one feeling encouraged was a really nice change.
One moment that stuck with me (and not in the best way) was when the nurse came in and asked, “Is she still on insulin?” I know it’s part of their job to review medications and keep everything updated, but it was one of those reminders that Type 1 Diabetes isn’t temporary. It’s lifelong—at least until there’s a cure. I politely explained that yes, she will always need insulin. It’s just one of those things that makes you realize how much awareness is still needed.
On a more exciting note, we had a really meaningful conversation about hearing options for Kay moving forward. Her team is now exploring the possibility of a cochlear implant, specifically an off-the-ear option. I snapped a picture during the appointment because it felt like such a big moment for us to even be discussing this.
What I love about this option is that it’s designed to sit off the ear, rather than requiring something like her current BAHA headband. If you know Kay, you know the headband hasn’t exactly been her favorite—between the fit and the sensory feedback when she touches it, it can be a challenge. This cochlear implant system could be a much better fit for her, both physically and functionally.
We’ll be meeting with her audiologist in July to take the next step and determine if this specific device is a good fit for Kay and if she’s a candidate overall. Of course, with her Type 1 Diabetes, surgery becomes a bigger conversation. There’s more to consider—blood sugar management, healing, and overall recovery—but it’s not off the table. It just means we go into it more prepared and with a little extra care.
One thing that gives me a lot of hope is how well Kay handles her diabetes devices. She wears them without issue and truly seems to understand their importance. That alone makes me feel like she could adapt really well to something like a cochlear implant.
Right now, Kay is hearing well out of her “good” ear, and we’re so grateful for that. But as her mom, I can’t help but think about how much more she could thrive if she had access to fuller hearing. The idea of her being able to experience sound more completely—it’s something that feels really exciting and emotional all at once.
We’re still in the early stages of exploring this, but for the first time in a while, it feels like we’re moving forward in a meaningful way. And that feeling? I’ll take it.