(Ch. 28 of my story of my journey into Deafhood…)

Photo by: Ozge Gurer

After my final dialysis, I was moved from the ICU to a recovery room in another ward, and remained there for the next eleven days. It was within those first 24 to 48 hours in the recovery room that we all began to realize I had a significant hearing loss.

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Deaf, Deafhood, Family, Grief, Health, Hearing Loss, Late-Deaf, Miscellaneous, My Story, Parenting, Spiritual, Support | 10 Comments »

(Ch. 27 of my story of my journey into Deafhood…)

When I woke again, my dad was gone and I was alone. However, I felt more alert than I had in days and I imagined I was finally getting better. I found my hospital guest book lying on the table beside my bed and I remembered Daddy had written in it. I picked it up and turned through the pages looking for his name and comments. I found him there on the last page. He wrote:

Photo by: “Angelo C.”

7-18-81
GOD LOVES YOU. I LOVE YOU. HAVE FAITH BECAUSE YOU’VE GOT A LOT OF LIVING TO DO. BE STRONG, THINK POSITIVE. NEVER GIVE UP. BESIDES IF I’VE EVER NEEDED YOU, I NEED YOU NOW. I NEED THE STRENGTH YOU HAVE SHOWN EVERYONE SINCE YOU’VE BEEN HERE. I KNOW
YOU CAN MAKE IT, YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY? BECAUSE YOU ARE A “CA$H & CO.” SO GET HOT! I LOVE YOU TO THE BONES.
DAD $

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(Ch. 26 of my story of how I became deaf…)

I’m not sure how much time had passed when I awoke next, but Mama was there telling me my Daddy was here at the hospital to see me. She asked me if I would like to see him. Mama and Daddy had been divorced for 7 years. I had not seen my father for a very long time. He lived in a different town and he was pretty much removed from our lives. I learned later that this was actually his second visit to the hospital. I was unaware of our first reunion.

Photo by: “Kat”

So now, my father was here again. I was stunned, yet happy. ‘Daddy! My Daddy’s here!’ my inner-child shouted out. I smiled. But I knew by the fact that he was even there, that my condition had to be life-threatening. We just never saw him. It made me sad and fearful at this realization. But I shook my head yes, indicating that I wanted to see my father, and Mama disappeared to go get him.

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ASL - Sign Language, Deaf, Deafhood, Family, Grief, Health, Hearing Loss, Late-Deaf, Love, Meaning, Miscellaneous, My Story, Parenting | 4 Comments »