(Ch. 59 of my storyblog of my journey into Deafhood…)

I became deaf at the age of 17 as the result of side effects of ototoxic medications used to treat a rare, life-threatening illness called Toxic Shock Syndrome. I’m glad survived this ordeal. I got to fall in love, find a career, and become a parent.

Photo by: “Shula”

My husband and I got a late start in the baby making business. We were together for almost 14 years before we began to settle and make our family. Because of our late start, we have had to accept that our family would be a small one, kind of like the Three Bears – cozy and loving. We give great thanks for the blessing of our only son, Paul.

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Deaf, Deafhood, Family, Hearing Loss, Late-Deaf, Miscellaneous, My Story, Parenting, Support | 3 Comments »

(Ch. 58 of my storyblog of my journey into Deafhood…)

Photo by: “Inky Bob”

After returning from Gallaudet, with the financial help of my Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor, I continued my education as a full-time student at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). I had learned of CSUN from some classmates at Gallaudet. CSUN was a college with a large deaf population mainstreamed among the larger hearing student body. Even though I enjoyed my experience at Gallaudet immensely, I missed the sun, my family and my love, Brent. I was ready to move back to the West Coast. I learned that CSUN had a Deaf Studies program so I decided I would give it a try…

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ASL - Sign Language, Deaf, Deafhood, Hearing Loss, Late-Deaf, Miscellaneous, My Story, Support | 6 Comments »

(Ch. 57 of my storyblog of my journey into Deafhood…)

Photo by: Eric Brochu

While attending Gallaudet in 1984, I became more fluent in ASL and more acclimated to the environment and culture of my Deaf peers. I was able to clearly follow my signing instructors and classmates, and participate fully in all my college courses. I felt on top of my game! I joined in deep, philosophical discussions during class and took part in comical or heated debates with acquaintances in the dorms where I lived. I hung out with friends in the cafeteria amid the loud, visual noise of waving hands, flashing lights and vibrating tables, and laughed at the lively, animated hazing rituals of newbies entering Deaf frats or sororities.

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ASL - Sign Language, Deaf, Deafhood, Gallaudet, Hearing Loss, Late-Deaf, Miscellaneous, My Story | 5 Comments »