Kidsday: My cochlear implant
I have a cochlear implant because I've been unable to hear since I was born. I was the first 1-year-old child to have one.
They used to only give them to adults. I had to get surgery when I was 1. They put me to sleep so I didn't feel it. Because of the surgery, I had to have about 50 stitches in my head.
I didn't know what it would sound like, so it hurt my ears. I got the new one last May, and it is a lot better than my old one. It is so much lighter. I take it off when I shower.
It also has a remote control to adjust the noise levels. Sometimes it is hard to hear people when it's noisy. Usually I can hear on the phone otherwise I put the phone on speaker.
I am very thankful that I have a cochlear implant. I am supposed to get an adjustment every five or six years.
Giving crutches some style
I recently hurt my knee. When the doctor gave me plain, silver crutches, I wanted to make them look better. Here is how I did it.
All you need is some spray paint, colorful duct tape, a pair of ice skate covers and your imagination.
First cover your crutches with colorful duct tape. Then spray paint the crutches over the tape.
After you let your beautiful crutches dry, take your nail, or something sharp, and scratch away at the paint in sections. This will make it look even cooler. Then you should see the colors of the duct tape coming through the spray paint.
If you have them, you can also add ice skate covers decorated with a little extra padding (mine looked like fuzzy slippers) on the top of the crutches for comfort.
You can also find things to hang off the crutches to make them look even fancier.
I hope that you will never have to be on crutches, but, if you do, at least you can make them look awesome.
--Kidsday Reporter Juliet Schreckinger
Gwetting into the act
I act at the Cultural Arts Playhouse in Plainview. At rehearsals, I always have a good time. I take acting classes, and, because of that, I have done many shows. I have been in "Into the Woods," "Little Red Riding Hood," "Annie," "Willy Wonka," and more. In class, we play acting games. We also sing songs for our open houses. I love acting because it's fun when I'm with all my friends and having a good time. I think anyone who tries acting will like it.
--Kidsday Reporter Elizabeth Gambino
CLASS OF THE WEEK: Edie Burman's fifth-grade class, GRACE DAY SCHOOL, Massapequa
