Readers of this blog with long memories may remember me being asked by staff at the Cochlear Implant Centre at Bradford Royal Infirmary, over a year ago, if I would be willing to be the subject of a film about the implant process. I said yes and, twelve months ago last week, first met Henrique and Sebastian from Med-El, the company who manufacture my particular type of implant and who had decided to make the film.
There are lots of short films (five minutes or so) available about implants. I watched several in the run up to the operation and very helpful they were too. But I’m not aware of any other film following one person’s story right from the beginning (being offered the implant), through to the stay in hospital, then switch-on day, then the various stages in the weeks and months that follow. I’m really hoping that having something available that shows the whole process will convince more people of the benefits of an implant and, in the UK, possibly even help in the campaign to make the eligibility criteria less strict.
The big news today is that a preview is available. You can watch it here. Med-El are releasing the film in various “chapters” at two weekly intervals, starting with “before the operation” on 23 October. They return to film the last episode (“one year on”) next month. The plan then is to release the full film (all the chapters!) sometime in early-ish 2019. I’ll post when the various sections are available, or you can sign up to get them via the Med-El website.
Hope you like it. HUGE thanks from me to Med-El and especially to Henrique and Sebastian – for the film but also for being there at all the crucial points, making me laugh and buoying me up.
(PS For subtitles click on the subtitles icon (CC) at the bottom of the screen).
Image copyright: Med-El. A scene from their quality control laboratory.
More than a bit deaf 
Hi Vera, A star is born. Am looking forward to future episodes of your CI progress. Have been told recently I have not reached the criteria for a CI referral, despite the fact I have to ask everyone to repeat themselves a number of times. Will you be writing any future blogs on your day to day experiences with your CI
Pat
Hello Patricia. Good to hear from you. I’m trying to write less about the implant, to lessen the risk of boring everyone silly! Things are still going well, though. How are you doing? Sounds as though maybe not so well???? Vera
Shame no subtitles which would be helpful especially if anyone watching before assessment or implant
It does have subtitles Josie – there’s an icon to click on (CC) at the bottom of the screen. Thanks for pointing it out, though, I’ve just updated the post in case people didn’t realise that. Vera.