The oddest thing happened about 4 years ago.  I couldn't identify why, but I was losing hearing in my right ear.  My ENT doctor recommended an MRI  which  showed a (benign) tumor about the size of a golf ball.  This was known as an "acoustic neuroma".  I confess that after the mere mention of the word "tumor", I went blank.  Within weeks, I had surgery to remove the tumor, which had taken up residency around several nerves in the brain stem region. 

As a result of that lengthy surgery, I lost hearing to my right ear.  My surgeon had suggested a Cochlear Implant prior to my operation, as well as on several post-op visits.  He determined that I was an excellent "candidate" for such a procedure. 

Perhaps it was my own frame of mind at the time.  I hesitated at the initial surgery, which was absolutely necessary; but now ANOTHER procedure?  No,  I simply wasnt ready.. Not then... 

Fast forward 3 1/2 years;  annual post-op checkup...  normal checkup;  There was an audiologist at the hospital that day, and she invited to try the BAHA  demo unit.  It took about 3 seconds to make up my mind!  More encouraging, the demo was an older analog unit, unlike the digital state-of-the-art piece that I am now proud to fashion! 

My surgery was in mid November, 2010.  Yesterday, February 17, 2011, my BAHA became alive.....and so did !!