Today Ben and I drove out to Westmead Hospital to see Professor Da Cruz to get the final layer of bandages off, and to check that everything has healed up.
I was pretty excited about this, because it was also the day when I could get the go-ahead to wash my hair – which has been untouched (well, gingerly brushed) for a record 13 days now.
This is what I looked like after the operation with gauze strips behind my ear for 13 days.
I am surprised there were not more things growing out of my head, but it appears not washing you hair doesn’t kill you. It wasn’t even that itchy or too oily - maybe could have passed for a hippy that’s all. Luckily I have been able to work from home, so not too worried about appearance. Poor Ben.
So, anyway, Professor Da Cruz peeled off the remaining gauze strips that were covering it, while Ben took a photo.
I was mildly freaking out because he literally just pulled it off with tweezers, and it felt OH SO WRONG! Because I have not touched that spot for 13 whole days.
I asked to have a look, because the cut apparently went right behind the ear – I was surethat there would be a massive scar… so I was eagerly asking Ben “is it really cool? really big? a bad scar? tell me! tell me!”, and he showed me.
I couldn't believe it. There was barely a mark on me. Just a faint line running down the inside of my ear.
There was NOTHING THERE.
Well, barely anything – just a verrrry faint line right in the corner of my ear.
I have to say Professor Da Cruz is totally the coolest and most awesome surgeon ever. But deep down I do feel like a scar would have been cool. Oh well.
I feel CHEATED!!! I wanted a massive scar so that people would ooh and aah, and I would be able to tailor the story accompanying the scar to suit my needs. If it’s someone I want to scare, tell them it’s where I was stabbed in the ghettos of Neutral Bay. If it’s someone I want to impress, tell them I have a computer in my head.
But no. Nothing! Unbelievable.
I said to Professor Da Cruz that it kind of felt like maybe they had tricked me – knocked me out with anaesthetic, laid me on the table, maybe played Celine Dion at high levels through headphones, and then bandaged me up. Literally. It might not have happened. There is no proof! No scar, and no pain. Weeeeeird. Well, my head was a bit red and itchy, but Celine Dion does that.
With Professor Da Cruz, after he checked my head. No scar at all just 13 days after cochlear implant surgery - I am just amazed. I am one happy customer.
So, everything is on track for the switch-on of the implant, when I get all plugged in to become “Cyborg Kate” in just 9 days.
Professor Da Cruz also checked that the X-ray showed that the Cochlear Implant was in the right spot. If it wasn't we would have had to take it out and do it all again. Gah!
So, now it’s only nine days to go until activation. Wish me luck!
