Thursday, 27 October 2011

I Am One!

WOW! Can you believe it?! I am one year old today!! I woke up moments before my real actual time of birth this morning :) My daddy is spending the day with me and mommy today :) YAY! We went to say hello to Dr Nagel, we gave him a cake and a milktart to celebrate my birthday :) Next we went over to Parklands, we saw all our old friends...the security, the cafe staff, the pharmacy staff, the reception staff...then we headed up to NICU where we delivered a cake for them as well :) All my friends there were happy to see me :) next stop was labour ward :) then maternity ward :) lots of excitement everywhere :) Next we headed to St. Augustine's to visit Dr Egner. He also got a cake and a milk tart :) His staff told us Dr Egner was asking when I am coming to see him again :) It was a nice "non- appointment" visit :) When we got home I had so much fun opening my presents! It was so fun ripping up the paper and trying out the new toys :D So much excitement today...sooo tired....must...sleep...








Tuesday, 25 October 2011

Cochlear Implants...

Today I had another appointment with the audiologists...we go every week...I was tested in the booth with my hearing aids on...afterwards they told mommy and daddy that I might be a candidate for Cochlear Implants...

Sunday, 23 October 2011

My 1st Birthday Party!

Today was my first birthday party!!! I had so much fun!! Mommy let me sit and play on the grass for a bit...I got to chew on a chomp for the first time :) I also got to chew on a marshmellow cone - which I enjoyed until it was dunked in chocolate...then I threw it on the floor...my cake was made up of lots of cupcakes...I had one too :) I enjoyed squashing it and making a mess with it :) All my big friends had fun at my party too! I got a lot of presents but I will only open them on my real birthday...Thank you so much to my granny and my aunty Olivia for having such an awesome party for me :) and thank you to everyone that came to help us celebrate! I love you all!


Tuesday, 18 October 2011

How Do You Rate Me?

I had an appointment with the audiologists today. They put me in the booth again. This time my daddy sat with me.  I had fun playing with aunty Lauren.  Everyone was clapping for me so I think I did well this time...I even turned my head to look at the screens when they came on which I haven't done before...New impressions were taken of my ears because I need new moulds for the hearing aids because my ears have grown!!!!  The ones I have now keep coming out! Aunty Kara also did a development assessment.  This is how she rated me:

Cognition/Play : 6 to 9 months

Social Interaction : 9 to 12 months

Listening : 6 to 9 months

Emerging Meaning : 3 to 6 months

Vocal Expression : 3 to 6 months

(Remember that my "corrected age" is considered as about 7 and a half months even though my real age is nearly 12 months)

Thursday, 13 October 2011

Big Top Rock!! (Fundraiser)

Another fund raiser at The Barnyard for Corgan Layden!!! For bookings contact Sharon on 0735043517 or email: sharonannblanche@gmail.com

Date of Fundraiser - 04 January 2012
Tickets are R135.00
PLEASE NOTE: You must book through Sharon in order to support the fund raiser - tickets bought directly from The Barnyard do not count towards Corgan's Fundraiser.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

The Barnyard Theatre at Gateway is going big in order to celebrate its tenth birthday as it prepares to stage Big Top Rock from 18 October to 8 January 2012. This show is bound to have audiences spellbound, as this sequel to Rock Circus takes the show’s concept to new heights.

Big Top Rock is the ultimate rock ’n roll circus, and the show includes music, aerial acts, jugglers and a circus atmosphere that will rock you like no other. After the success of Rock Circus, Big Top Rock continues to mesmerize its audiences in an action-packed show featuring an extended stage.

Hosting the show as ringmaster is the talented rock singer extraordinaire Kyle Matthews who is joined by Nadine Sisam and Petto Bock on vocals, backed up by a rocking five-piece band! The four-piece international aerial act Sircusynergy fronted by Orlando and Natalie Vargas (who blew audiences away in Rock Circus) add the icing to the cake. Sircusynergy perform a variety of acts that include the running wall, pole acrobatics, juggling, flying rope, lyra and strap acts which are all performed to the beat of the rocking live band and singers. Six decades of music is featured from icons like Prince, Lenny Kravitz and Pink, to rock bands like ACDC, U2, Journey, Santana and
many more.

Big Top Rock is the biggest, most entertaining and most daring show ever produced by The Barnyard Theatres, so let us entertain you!

Tickets are R135 per person from Wednesday to Saturday For
bookings and enquiries, phone Sharon on 0735043517 or email sharonannblanche@gmail.com



My First FUN-d raiser :)

Thank you sooo much to everyone that supported my first fundraiser! It was so much FUN (even though I slept through most of it:) I hope to see you all at the next one!! Thank you so much to my granny, Sharon Blanche for all of her hard work and effort! I really appreciate it. I love you! xxx

Tuesday, 11 October 2011

Oompa Loompa

I went to the audiologists this morning. They tested me in the booth again and I think I responded well :) I had fun playing with aunty Lauren and her toys :) I also liked all the clapping I got when I responded :) I also got weighed at a clinic today - 5.4kg!

Monday, 10 October 2011

Raffle Fundraiser for Me - run and sponsored by Yvonne Hegter

"For only R5 stand a chance to win a toy doll's cot with linen and help Corgan who was born 3 months premature on 27 October 2010, weighing only 520g. He recently had an ABR test and they concluded that he has profound hearing loss in both ears and will need hearing aids at a cost of around R60 000. Draw will take place on 30 November 2011. Winner will be notified via telephone or e-mail on 1 December 2011."

To buy a ticket you can contact:
Sharon Blanche 0735043517 or sharonannblanche@gmail.com

Friday, 30 September 2011

What an earful...

I got my hearing aids (Phonak - Naida V UP Paediatric) on Tuesday (27 September 2011). When the sound was first turned on I got so excited - I laughed :) My hearing aids are blue...I had fun with my singamajig and Zak from ZingZillas...I also watched a bit of Wonder Pets - They saved the beetles stuck in a yellow submarine under the sea!!





Thursday, 29 September 2011

Another Way to Help ME!

Please visit - http://www.facebook.com/Toodu?sk=wall scroll down until you find the comment made by Sharon ann Blanche (my granny) then "like" the comment - help us win this R5000 towards my hearing aids! The competition runs until the end of November 2011!

"My grandson Corgan Layden, now 11 months was born prem @ 26 weeks @ 520g and has a hearing impairment and needs hearing aids that cost R60,000.00 for the pair, so should I win R5,000.00, then I would give it towards Corgan's hearing aids, so that his development, especially his speach is not set back and so that he can hear the lovely sounds of nature and music and also one day benefit from a proper education."

Tuesday, 27 September 2011

Monday, 26 September 2011

Smart Mortgage Solutions Fund Raising

Smart Mortgage Solutions will donate 0.1% of all approved home loans towards my hearing aids - So if you or anyone you know is looking at buying property contact Smart Mortgage Solutions! And don't forget to mention that you are supporting Corgan Layden's fund raising!

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Need a home loan and want to save thousands of rands?

Look no further: we can help!!

We specialize in getting competitive rates for new Mortgage Bonds on 

Residence and Further Mortgage Bonds for renovations and additions

We can help with Private Sale Agreements 

Services are FREE, we are contracted to all major banks, you relax while we do the paper and legwork.

Interested ? Do the SMART thing, contact us at:


Smart Mortgage Solutions
153 Anleno Road, Montclair 4004
Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
Tel : (0027) 031 ~ 462 2632 Cell : (0027)082 569 6302
Fax : (0027) 031 ~ 462 4138
email:chantal@smartms.co.za



Thursday, 15 September 2011

Thank You!!!

Thank you so much to everyone that has read my blog!!! I have had 1006 views so far!!! :)

Tuesday, 13 September 2011

My First Fund Raising Event!

My First Fund Raiser has been arranged!! Anyone interested in buying tickets for "The Final Countdown" @ The Barnyard in Gateway on Wednesday 12 October 2011 - tickets are R125 and I will get R50 from each ticket we sell! If you or anyone you know is interested please contact Sharon (my granny) on 0735043517 or sharonannblanche@gmail.com x

IT’S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN...

The Final Countdown is a musical journey that will take audiences at The Barnyard Theatre at Gateway on a wild ride through six decades of fashion, music and rock ’n roll from 30 August to 16 October.

The show blasts off in the 50’s with greased-back hair, ice cream cones, the road house, stove pipe jeans, milk shakes and music from Elvis, Richie Valens, Bill Haley, Buddy Holly, Shirley Bassey and Connie Francis. Who could forget the birth of rock ‘n roll with hits like Rock Around The Clock, Let’s Twist Again, Fever, La Bamba and Blue Suede Shoes. Yeah, The Barnyard are hitting the fifties in real fine style, as The Barnyard starts to Shake, Rattle And Roll. 

Next it’s on to the 60’s where you are introduced to some of the greatest music of our time presented in a swinging London street scene - Carnaby Street - where anything can happen. The sixties segment features music from The Beach Boys, Roy Orbison, The Supremes. Expect to hear Twist & Shout, Pretty Woman and Good Vibrations in this nostalgic stretch of the journey will have you rocking and a reeling to the decade when the world was free and the party went on forever!

In the 70’s you’re taken you on a highlights tour of a decade that will musically never be forgotten, featuring everything from rock groups like Boston and Deep Purple, to the disco ear of The Bee Gees, Donna Summer and Le Freak. Think Ballroom Blitz, Freak Out, Hot Stuff, Tragedy and Smoke On The Water. This is a decade that will be remembered for those crazy platform shoes, when mirror balls and disco music soon took the world by storm creating a never-ending party!

The 80’s was the decade of new technology that saw the launching of MTV, the video machine, the fax machine and was the era of capitalism. A vast amount of music was recorded in this decade leaving us with endless possibilities such as Lionel Ritchie’s Dancing On The Ceiling, Depeche Mode’s I Just Can’t Get Enough; the decade’s movie magic in Dirty Dancing and Footloose; and South African sounds wit bands like E’Void and Hot Line. The eigthties was a time of fun that produced music and fashion so distinctive to this era.

The 1990’s saw the creation of many diverse scenes in music, but the decade was best known for girl groups like the Spice Girls, boy bands like Boyz II Men, pop bands like Roxette, and South American icons like Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin. The nineties was a daring and innovative decade and produced music that we will always cherish and remember. Who could forget anthems like I’m Too Sexy For My Shirt, She’s Got The Look, End Of The Road and Livin’ La Vida Loca?

Lastly, The Final Countdown arrives in the new millennium which sees a different world where computer technology is controlling our every move, but the music still lives on. Girls in rock have become a dominant force with artists like Christina Aguilera ruling the airwaves. The pop and rock scene is still alive and kicking with the likes of the Black Eyed Peas, Mika and Kid Rock. The new millennium cannot be paid tribute to without remembering 2010 with Waka Waka. 

Leading this musical journey are Andrew Webster, Granville Geldenhuys, Kashiefa Blaauw, Cassandra de Beer and Megan Carlese on vocals; while the band is made up of Neil Schoeman (guitar), Rainer Jadischke (keyboards), Karl Hering (bass guitar), Dylan van der Linde (drums) and Kirsty Madgin (saxophone).

The times have changed along with music and fashion, but the music lives on forever. The Final Countdown is the ultimate party for a musical trip made up of memories, good times and music that is ever-lasting! Tickets are R125 per person from Wednesday to Saturday, with discounted specials of R90 per person every Tuesday night and Sunday matinee show.

About The Ad...

As you may have noticed I now have an advert on my blog...I have added AdSense as another way to raise funds for my hearing aids and therapy :)

Saturday, 10 September 2011

Facebook

Like my page on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Corgan-Layden/279928272034092?sk=wall

Or be my friend - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002186364324

Donations and Fund Raising

Please watch this space for future fundraising events! Or if you have any ideas for fund raisers or would like to make any donations towards Corgan's hearing aids etc, let us know :) and thank you so much to the kind and generous hearts that are already helping or made donations x

Donations can be made as follows:

Name of account holder: S.D Layden 

Bank: ABSA

Type account: Savings

Branch: Bluff

Branch code: 632005

Account No. 9254298494

International Swift Code: ABSAZAJJ

Please use your name as the reference and fax deposit notice to 0865184093 or email corganlayden@gmail.com

For those who would prefer to deposit into a trust fund. This is a trust fund run by the audiologist. Money deposited with our surname as a reference will be allocated to Corgan. We are also trying to get a trust fund set up in Corgan's name - but it seems it could take some time...

Cash or Cheque payments:

Bank Investec Private Bank

Account number:01043960306

Trust Reference: 10011378073

Please use Layden as a reference for the deposit. Please send notification to Hayley - Fax 0312618133 or email hayleycochlear@gmail.com


Electronic payments:

Bank: Investec Bank

Account Name: Abrina 6565

Branch name: 100 Grayston Drive, Sandton

Branch code: 580105

Bank Account number: 10011378073

Account type: Current

Please use Layden as a reference for the deposit. Please send notification to Hayley - Fax 0312618133 or email hayleycochlear@gmail.com

Any help is very appreciated!





Tuesday, 6 September 2011

First Impression...

I had another appointment with aunty Kara today...but I was tired and not very interested...she made impressions of my ears so that the moulds for my hearing aid...I will probably have them fitted sometime next week...

Monday, 5 September 2011

A little Story of a little miracle...

This is the short version of a long story written by mommy... "Corgan Layden was born on the 27th of October 2010. He was born at 26 weeks gestation - he was 14 weeks/3 months premature. His birth weight was 520g...despite being 26 weeks he was smaller than he should have been - the previous scans had calculated he was equal to about 23 weeks...Moments before he was delivered we were told that nobody knew what to expect and whether we had any idea what we would like to do with the "fetus" (babies are only considered babies at 28 weeks) and would we want a burial...BUT, he was here! And he was perfect...the tiniest little thing we had ever seen but just so perfect...it didn't take long before his doctor came to tell me that Corgan was in a stable condition...we were told to take one day at a time...He was ventilated for 7 weeks on and off...in the first attempt he only last about 9 hours before becoming too tired, he had to be re-intubated...the second attempt at coming off the ventilator was hampered by a chest infection...The third attempt went well, he was so strong...he was then on supplementary oxygen for 3 weeks...In total he was hospitalised for 108 days! During that time he also had an inguinal hernia repair operation when he weighed just 1,69kg...He also received 6 blood transfusions during his hospital stay...he had 3 visits from an opthalmologist to check his eyes for Retinopathy of prematurity, we were told each time that his eyes look healthy...he also had two visits with a cardiologist to check for PDA, he said his heart is healthy. The first time he was discharged, he had to be rushed back and readmitted straight away...he had picked up a cold or something and really started battling to breathe...he had to be put back on oxygen when we arrived back at the hospital...that day his hearing was tested and the test was inconclusive...we later assumed that it was probably also due to the fact that he was ill...4 days later he went home for real! He is such a perfect baby, no issues, no illnesses since he's been at home...just perfect...when he had been home for a few weeks we had to take him to the audiologist to be retested - this time he got a pass! BUT, we were asked if we could come for a follow up test in about six months because some of the medications used when he was born as well as blood transfusions could have affected the nerves that make us hear...Corgan is now 10 months old and weighs 4,9kg...he had his follow up hearing test on 23 August 2011...They performed an ABR test...they have concluded that he has profound hearing loss in both his ears...he will need hearing aid on both sides too...He seems to respond well to very loud and very high pitched sounds...we are presently working with the audiologists twice a week and will probably be "fitting" hearing aids soon..."

Friday, 2 September 2011

Booth

I had an appointment with aunty Kara, the audiologist today...she put me in a booth, sitting on mommy's lap...she played different sounds and different frequencies and volumes...the results corresponded with the ABR results...

Thursday, 1 September 2011

An Update From The Grown Ups

On the 23rd of August 2011, Corgan went for his follow up hearing test. The results were that he has profound hearing loss in both his ears...Medication used at birth are a possible cause, and so are blood transfusions...Corgan will need hearing for both ears as well as ongoing treatments and therapies, such as speech therapy. Impressions were taken yesterday for the moulds of the hearing aids to be made...Watch this space for fundraising events! Or if you have any ideas for fundraisers or would like to make any donations towards Corgan's hearing aids etc, let us know :) and thank you so much to the kind and generous hearts that are already helping or made donations x

Tuesday, 30 August 2011

Chit Chat

We had an appointment with my audiologist, Kara Hoffman, today...she went through the results from last week...she is very nice and understanding...I will need hearing aid for each ear as well as ongoing therapy...Aunty Kara says we are lucky that my problem has been picked up so early...

Thursday, 25 August 2011

Road Trip!

Today I left on my first holiday! We're going to Hartbeespoort to visit my great grandfather and great aunty and uncle.  It was the longest time I have spent in a car so far!!

Tuesday, 23 August 2011

Can You Hear Me?

Today I had my follow up hearing test...the test performed is called an ABR...they concluded that I have a profound hearing problem...I can't hear conversational level sounds, only really loud ones...they said I would need hearing aids for both ears as they are both equally bad...they said its the nerves that are the problem...some of the medicine used when I was born as well as blood transfusions could have possibly caused this...

Monday, 22 August 2011

Sunday, 21 August 2011

Wednesday, 17 August 2011

Bouncy Ball!

Today granny bought me a nice crinkly toy (I love things that make crinkly sounds :) Grampa chose a ball for me :) I love it! And I also love my Sing-A-Ma-Jig - I think its so funny! I enjoyed playing ball with grampa!! I have started Stage 2 foods now!

Wednesday, 3 August 2011

Friday, 3 June 2011

Saturday, 14 May 2011

Party! Party!

I went to my first party today! My friend Hannah turned 2 today!  Tonight is my aunty Olivia's birthday party too!
All Partied Out!