SUBSEQUENT TRIP REQUEST: 37th and 38th flights.

Forty-five year old Leonie from Merimbula NSW has a young family and has just received her second cochlear implant.

This Angel flight was for transport to Sydney to have this new processor switched on.

Read about a previous mission for Leonie (M2160)

Gary Weeks - Pilot

Angel flight 1 by Gary Weeks
This is Gary's 27th Angel flight

Comment by Gary

"Kevin at Angel Flight rang me on Friday afternoon to see if I could do an Angel flight on the Monday - as the pilot originally assigned was not instrument rated, and he was concerned about the weather. He is obviously a meteorologist or a very smart man, as Monday morning dawned wet, windy and cold.

Mex (Leonie's husband), Leonie and Gary

For our flight down to Merimbula, I had planned to fly at 9000ft but due to extensive cloud and ice, I had to descend to 7000ft and then eventually 5000ft just to the south of Moruya. It was unseasonably cold, with the freezing level down at about 6000ft, which is most unusual to find given it is November.

Mex reading the paper

The flight southbound to pick up Leonie and Mex was actually uneventful, although there was nothing to see except the inside of cloud. On arrival into Merimbula, our passengers were waiting at the terminal building. The Merimbula airport reminded me a bit of Fort Knox, as it wasn’t just a matter of opening the airside gate to allow the passengers in; a code was required from the airport operator to even get the gate open from airside. There must potentially be a lot of terrorist down the south coast somewhere, as I have not been to any other airport where you need a code to get out of the airport.

After meeting the passengers and taking a couple of happy snaps, we were once again underway heading north to Bankstown. I was able to punch up through the cloud and at 10000ft we were now just above the majority of the cloud in smooth sunny conditions. As it was morning tea time, the tea and coffee with a biscuit was made and passed back to Leonie and Mex.

Leonie enjoying a cuppa

We had a good flight north, with just a few bumps and some more rain during the descent into Bankstown. Another enjoyable outing, thanks for the opportunity to be able to do it."

Rex Regional Express - Pilot
Web site

Angel flight 2 by Rex Regional Express
This is Rex Regional Express' 267th Angel flight

From Leonie

Our day begins with me looking out the window wondering what the weather will be like as the past few days have been a mixture of wild weather, rain, wind and a drop in temperature.

The winds still blowing but not as bad as yesterday and there is blue sky to be seen in between the passing clouds.

David and I head to the Airport at 9.30am.

It tries to rain while we are waiting but only a light drizzle, doesn't last long.

A smart looking plane touches down and taxi's to a halt.

We see the pilots wearing the Angel Flight identification and proceed to the gate.

Mr Korbin from Merimbula Aeroplane Maintenance opens the security gate for us.

We make our introductions to Gary, our Pilot and Bob, (as least I think it's Bob, names are always very difficult for me to pick-up).

Gary's plane is a Beechcraft Bonanza A36, single engine, six seater.

We take some happy snaps and climb aboard.

Gary tells us he'll be serving tea, coffee and biscuits once we are in the air. Naturally I thought he was joking.

We take off on time.

The plane is lovely inside, leather seats, suede on the roof. Very comfortable and great visibility.

Fifteen minutes into the flight and we are flying through white cloud, visibility zero.

We pop out into glorious sunshine with a sea of fluffy clouds below us. It is a shame we can't walk on clouds, they look so inviting.

As usual it's colder up there and I'm pleased that Gary is thoughtful and has supplied a blanket which I make good use of.

I was so cosy and the view was lovely. Clouds are so interesting in there formation and colour and the way the light plays on them.

I didn't think it could get any better but then Gary served us tea and biscuits. Now that's a first!

I found out later that Gary is a commercial pilot and flies Jumbo's around the world. Maybe he's used to in-flight refreshments. It was a much appreciated treat. Thankyou Gary.

At 11.20am we dropped below the clouds and the out-skirts of Sydney came into view. It looked dull and damp after being in bright sunshine.

We landed safely at Bankstown Airport at 11.25am after a very enjoyable trip, which, considering the weather conditions was a pleasant surprise.

Fortunately for us a young mother, Kim and her infant son Matthew were due to arrive at Bankstown Airport not long after us. Their destination was also the Cochlear Centre. They were being picked up by Kim's Aunty, Ros, who kindly agreed to transport us as well.

Kim and Matthew arrived with their pilot, Victor Laybutt and co-pilot, who joined us at the front of the Terminal.

Ros had arrived shortly after and we all introduced ourselves. We had flown with Kim's pilot on a previous occasions so it was good to see Victor once again.

We piled into Ros' vehicle and to my fascination Ros got her GPS up and running, which I had a clear view of. I was amazed at how clear and helpful it was.

David has a GPS in his boat, which to me is as user friendly as an aeroplane instrument panel so I was pleasantly surprised by Ros'.

I was so busy watching the GPS I hardly had time to notice the appearance of this season's Jacaranda's but once I realised they were showing their colours I noticed the stunning mauve blossoms everywhere.

After we arrived at the Cochlear Centre and helped Kim with Matthew, we sat to wait for Rachel but barely had time to draw breath as she appeared with her trainee who was to sit in on my 'Switch On'.

So once in Rachel's room she fitted my new speech processor to my head. It fell off once until I got it snug and in position.

We went through the electrodes to make sure they were all functioning, which they were. This involves me listening while my new processor is plugged into Rachel's computer. Normally my processor is unattached and running off battery power.

I listen for the three beeps and when I hear them I say, Yes.

This may sound simple but it's actually very difficult as I have to really concentrate to sort out the beeps from the sound of my tinnitus, which is a constant, sometimes overwhelming noise.

Once we know all electrodes are functioning, we run through them all to confirm that none are too loud or high pitched etc..

We are now ready for 'Switch On'.

It's an emotional moment and tissues are required.

The first thing I hear is a constant static noise until someone speaks. They sound like mice, squeaking.

Rachel talks directly to me and this time she sounds like a Martian, electronic. Within minutes her voice changes to sound like Daffy Duck, which is amusing.

David sounds more normal but still far from what I'm used to hearing.

My voice sounds really alien to me. It took a second for me to even realise it was my voice.

Rachel and trainee go and make David and myself a cuppa so we can talk and I can have a moment to get my act together.

Upon her return Rachel runs through some sounds while covering her mouth so I can't lip-read. AA, SH, O, S. I get most of them.

We then run through the months of the year. I get them all except I mix up January and February.

Next it's words like fish and rabbit. Rabbit was one I couldn't get at my previous 'Switch On' but I got it this time and most of the others.

So that's all promising.

We talk about upcoming appointments and I get all my new accessories of which there are many.

So 'Switch On' was done and now time will tell as it doesn't happen overnight.

We took some photo's with Rachel and said our farewells until next week, when we meet again.

Luckily for us Kim and Matthew are flying home from Mascot so Ros was once again able to give us a lift.

We were returning home on Rex Airlines, departing Mascot at 6.45pm.

With the assistance of Ros' GPS we arrived at the airport.

We checked in and assisted Kim and Matthew to their departure gate, then said our farewell's.

David and I found a table with a view of the incoming and departing planes. We passed the time easily. The noise at a busy airport is quite over-whelming for a new processor and an older brain to deal with but I didn't have to turn it down, I just listened and tried to decipher what I was hearing. I couldn't make out much, even hearing David was trying but I was listening without wincing and that's an improvement.

One of Rhys' primary school teachers came and said,"Hello" to me when we'd moved to the departure lounge. Mr Mannell knew I had a cochlear implant and still had difficulty in public places but he just wanted to say, "Hi", which was nice of him.

I turned both processors off once we'd boarded our plane. The engine noise is too much too soon.

The weather was cold and wet upon returning to Merimbula.

I dropped David at the Tura Country Club on the way home. Melbourne Cup tomorrow and he was going to the Sweepstakes Draw.

Upon returning home and listening to Rhys, who now sounded quite different, I tried to make out some familiar noises but I was so tired that didn't last long.

When our Cottage pendulum clock struck the half hour I didn't recognise it all and had to ask Rhys what that noise was.

Later: Tuesday morning.

When I first put my processor on after getting out of bed, it sounded much the same as when it did at 'Switch On', constant static but in an hour or so I was able to recognise individual noises. Rhys' voice still sounded different and I had to ask him to slow down his speech so I could pick up what he was saying. This helps alot as it always has.

When the clock chimed I recognised it.

After a while the constant static disappeared and you start to hear individual sounds.

It's all amazing.

Here's hoping that a week from now I can interpret much more and continue to learn and hear.

I can't finish this journal without telling you of the plans for my first implant, which isn't working at all as it should. The plan now is to have a special x-ray of some sort, hopefully here or Bega if the facilities are available. This is to ascertain if the internal processor is sitting in place or not. The connection may have been disturbed. Grasping at straws here to determine the reason for the loss in hearing. A process of elimination as always.

So that's my story.

Stay tuned for next weeks episode where you'll read about how Rhys and I flew to Sydney to the Cochlear Centre for a mapping and also kept an appointment with my neurosurgeon, Professor Besser.