Porting Disconnected phone - Conflicting information - Need help

We had decided not to convert to the new digital phone. Unfortunately, I did not try and port it out (t-mobile) prior to a disconnect. So when I tried porting it, T-mobile couldn't port it. I called COX and talked to a tech who said that he could reactivate the phone at COX so I could port it. It was supposedly done. I tried to port and could not. I called COX again and the tech said that it was active and could be ported. I tried again with T-mobile. Again - it couldn't. T-mobile called COX and THAT representative (not tech support) said that I would have to reactivate the phone by having a service call, activating the new digital service and then I could port. That representative stated that the techs should have known that.That it requires a service call is the deal breaker for me. I can't have a tech in the room where my equipment is located due to a bedridden relative. I asked about a self install kit. That was not allowed either.

Well - Which one is it?! This experience has been extremely frustrating. I am getting completely conflicting information. I want to keep this phone number but I don't want to jump through 20 hoops to do it.

Thanks