Straight out of COMPTON

Monday, July 14, 2008

Last Minute Pics After Surgery

Mom took some great pictures for Cara...hopefully she won't pass out before she gets a chance to see I updated the blog!

There are some pictures of my IV, my hair dangling down off the bed, a drop of fluid about to drip, and my final photo in the hospital recovery room.

Oh, I forgot to tell you all...the doctor came in to tell my mom the surgery went perfectly. I had 100% hearing in the operating room.

I currently am unable to hear because my middle ear is filled with guaze. It will dissolved within a couple of weeks. My doctor's appointment will be July 30th. At that time, I'm going to be hearing and so happy I had this surgery!

In the Meantime...

While I was being operated on, mom was exploring the hospital. She found some cute places to visit. Too bad Tanner and Mia weren't here to see them with Nana!

My Head's Getting Shaved!

Here are some close-ups of my shaved head and tattooed ear!

I felt them shaving my head in the operating room, but I didn't really think twice about it at that time. The next thing I knew, I was asleep, and then a few minutes later I heard talking again. I thought I'd be taking the hearing test pretty soon, but before I knew it, I was in the recovery room.

In the last two pictures, you can see the bandage on my left arm from the vein extraction. Lightly touching that area is a bit tender. My ear really didn't hurt that bad. I ranked it about a 3-4 on the pain scale. What bothered me most was the fact that I couldn't move. I had to lay on my right side for 4 hours. It was so confining and claustrophobic! I was getting really antsy. My couldn't stop moving my feet. I was also uncomfortable the whole time because I continuously needed to go to the bathroom. I had fluids being pumped up in me all morning. By the time I left the hospital, let's just say, I became a bedpan pro!

Cori's Stapedectomy Day!

On July 11, 2008, I had my second surgery...a stapedectomy! I was diagnosed earlier this year with Otosclerosis and was told this is the procedure to have.

I lost my hearing in my left ear due to calcium build-up on my stapes bone. A stapedectomy is a surgery where they go in through the tympanic membrane and use a laser to take out the stapes bone (the smallest bone in the body) and place a prosthetic device in its place. On one side of the device, they use a piece of my forearm vein to bind it to the footplate of the bone still attached to the cochlea. The other side of the device is twisted around the incus bone tightly. The calcium will continue to build up, but it isn't able to bind to the material the prostheses is made out of...titanium. Don't worry, I found out I still can go through metal detectors and be scanned by MRIs.

My mom was able to fly down to Arizona on Wednesday to come be with me during my surgery. She did a great job of documenting the day.

My surgery day started out with me not hearing my alarm go off to get ready to be at the hospital by 5:45 am. What woke me up was my mom getting up....thank goodness for her! At 5 am I woke up to quickly take a shower and get dressed for the procedure at Banner Desert. We left my place at 5:45 am...oops! It was fine...they usually give you plenty of time to get there late/on time!

We got all checked in, and mom got her usual great compliment that she couldn't be my mother...she's way too young! Then we went up to the waiting room. I was told to go change into my gown, socks, and head cover. Then I was to wait for my doctors and nurses to get me all set up for the surgery. I got my first IV in my hand. It had to be the most painful part of the whole procedure. It didn't feel too comfortable. Then I met my anesthesiologist. She talked to us a short while before Dr. Fucci came in to visit with us. I have to admit I was getting more nervous around this time. I teared up a little bit with my mom. Dr. Fucci is my surgeon. He asked me which ear I was getting worked and marked it with a permanent marker "YES." He reviewed the procedure with me and then took off.

Mom took these pictures before I rolled away to the operating room.

Within the next few minutes, I was in the operating room. The room appeared to be a large cluttered room. I didn't even know if there was room enough for my bed to be in there. I heard some talking for a little while, and then the next thing I know...

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Short Clip of "Billy Jean"

The American Idol 2008 Tour Set List

Chikezie: "I Believe to My Soul" (Ray Charles/Donny Hathaway)/ "Hey Mama" (Kanye West)/ "Caught Up" (Usher) / "So High" (John Legend)

Ramielle Malubay: "I Want You Back" (Jackson 5)/ "Love Will lead You Back" (Taylor Dane)/ "If I Never See Your Face Again" (Maroon 5)

Michael Johns: "We Will Rock You"/"We are the Champions" (Queen) / "It's All Wrong But It's All Right" (Dolly Parton)/ "Dream On" (Aerosmith)

Kristy Lee Cook: "Tryin' to Squeeze the Love Outta You" (Carolyn Dawn Johnson) / God Bless the USA" (Lee Greenwood)/ "Cowgirls"

Carly Smithson: "Wake Me Up Inside" (Evanescence)/ "Crazy" (Heart)/ "Drove All Night" (Cyndi Lauper/Celine Dion)

Brooke White: "Let it Be" (Beatles)/ "1,2,3,4" (Feist) / "Yellow" (Coldplay)

Group: "Pride (In the Name of Love)" (U2)

Jason Castro: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (Iz version with ukelele) / "Crazy" (Gnarls Barkley) / "Daydream" (Lovin' Spoonful)

Syesha Mercado: "Umbrella" (Rihanna) / "If I Ain't Got You" (Alicia Keys) / "Listen" (Beyonce)

David Archuleta: "Angels" (Robbie Williams) / "Apologize" (Timbaland) / "Stand By Me">"Beautiful Girls (Suicidal)" (Ben E. King/Sean Kingston) / "When You Say You Love Me" (Josh Groban)

David Cook: "Hello" (Lionel Richie) / "Time of My Life" (Cook) / "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" (Aerosmith) / "My Hero" (Foo Fighters) / "Billie Jean" (Michael Jackson)

Group: "Don't Stop the Music" (Rihanna)