The Ear of My Heart » 2007

Archive for July, 2007

Deaf or Death: How Like the Mute Bird ~

Posted by LaRonda on July 25th, 2007

(Ch. 23 of my story of how I became deaf…)

I would eventually learn that there had been significant damage my vocal chords from all the trauma that went on inside my throat from the intubation, tubes from the respirator, and the many throat cultures that were performed during my two and a half week hospital stay during the summer of 1981. I would soon discover that I could no longer sing with the pure tone sounds or range I used to project as a vocal musician. It was a bitter blow. I would become a noteless flute; a mute bird with no voice to sing of my loss and throw this tremendous sorrow from my soul.

Deaf or Death: Toxic Shock Syndrome ~

Posted by LaRonda on July 25th, 2007

(Ch. 28 of my story of how I became deaf…)

So what was the mysterious, life-threatening illness I experienced in 1981, which ultimately lead to my deafness? The final diagnosis was TSS - Toxic Shock Syndrome.

Photo by: Tracy Hunter

TSS is defined as a rare, bacteria-caused illness occurring mostly in menstruating women who use high absorbency tampons.

Deaf or Death: The Breakthrough ~

Posted by LaRonda on July 24th, 2007

(Ch. 22 of my story of how I became deaf…)

Photo by: Anita Gould

As the morning dawned, Mama got up from the vinyl couch at the end of the hospital corridor and walked down to the waiting room that was once again filling with my relatives and friends. Most of them were weeping, having heard that I was near death and fearing that I may have died through the night. That’s the information most people had been given by those who were there last - that it was hopeless and that the doctor had given up.

Deaf or Death: The Veil ~

Posted by LaRonda on July 24th, 2007

(Ch. 21 of my story of how I became deaf…)

It was about 2 or 3 in the morning when Dr. Keller finally approached my mother. Mama said Dr. Keller looked like he had lost a war. Everything in his body and in his words seemed as if he had given up. He sat in a chair across from Mama in the waiting room with his head hanging low, his hands clasped together, his elbows resting on his knees. He shook his head back and forth and then he looked long and hard at Mama.

Photo by: “Adriano”

“I don’t know what to do. “I’ve done everything I can. I just don’t know what else there is… I don’t know what is taking her! I can’t find it! I just don’t know…”

Everything about Dr. Keller at that moment indicated his surrender. And then he left Mama wondering if this was the end of me.

Deaf or Death: Dweller at the Threshold ~

Posted by LaRonda on July 24th, 2007

(Ch. 20 of my story of how I became deaf…)

Photo by: “Mike”

The respirator was breathing for me and I remember feeling a tremendous pressure on my chest. I was afraid and kept trying to cry out to people, ‘Help me! Help me! I can’t breathe!’ But, I had tubes in my throat and couldn’t talk. The pressure on my chest came from the backed up body fluid, which was a result of my kidney failure. The fluid was pushing my lungs upward and squishing my heart. I literally felt the breath of life being squeezed right out of me. It was my darkest night.

Had Enough Of Me Yet?

Posted by LaRonda on July 23rd, 2007

Photo by: “baboona”

In this ASL video clip, LaRonda lightheartedly encourages readers to keep reading her summer-cliffhanger storyblog posted here at The Ear of My Heart, and up on DeafRead. The story is about how LaRonda became deaf and how she adjusted to, accepted and ultimately celebrated that transition and journey into Deafhood. The final chapter will complete on Aug. 8th, 2007. Enjoy!

Deaf or Death: A Call to Arms ~

Posted by LaRonda on July 23rd, 2007

(Ch. 19 of my story of how I became deaf…)

Photo by: Fort Photo

The doctors and nurses finally sent Mama home. She had been by my side in the hospital non-stop since I had arrived. Mama was beyond exhausted. She was sleep deprived and her own body was giving way to the long foodless hours and sleepless nights. My mother realized this and could no longer fight the fact that she needed rest, and to get back to attend to of the rest of our family. So, she organized a round-the-clock vigil, assigning aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins and friends to be present in shifts.