Did anyone catch “All My Children” today on TV? They have a storyline going on right now about a hearing baby who has suddenly become deaf as a result of being in a car accident. In light of the recent DBC (Deaf Bilingual Coalition) advocacy for deaf babies, I thought this program might be worth sharing.
(Ch. 64 — the FINAL CHAPTER of my summer storyblog about my journey into Deafhood…)
“Each one of us is destined to become the hero in at least one story – our own.”
~ Joseph Campbell
While Joseph Campbell explained and popularized “the hero’s journey” in his book, The Hero With 1,000 Faces, the concept of the hero’s journey is an ancient one. Like the mythical Phoenix who sets itself on fire and then rises from its own ashes, born anew, the hero’s story is one of birth, death and resurrection. Each of us receives a call to adventure sometime in our lives.
As deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, deaf-blind or hearing individuals with deaf parents or families, everything that comes our way in life, our everyday occurrences, can be seen as a call to adventure. We are all heroes in our own journey and story of deafhood. We are all searching to find our way through and beyond…
(Ch. 63 of my storyblog of my journey into Deafhood…)
I believe we are all Spirits put on this earth to have a human experience. I believe our Spirits are on a journey to find their way back home. I also believe we are given angels and sages and guides along our journey into Deafhood if we only recognize them.
Angels, helpers and guides come in many forms and at different times in our lives. I have had more than a few in my company along the stretch of my existence. Some passed briefly in and out of my days, while other were found living right along side of me, day in and day out.
(Ch. 62 of my storyblog of my journey into Deafhood…)
Not all Late-Deafened adults embrace their deafness by making it their career, but I did. All of my life experiences after losing my hearing led me to establish a career working with Deaf people, and I know it was meant to be. Yet coming to this realization has not been an easy process.
Late-Deafened people sometimes have to deal with strong, cultural and political opinions from certain members of the Deaf community about whether or not they are “Deaf enough” to be leading or working with culturally and linguistically Deaf people. This is not a new concept. People who are bi-racial or are of mixed decent have also dealt with similar issues throughout time. I understand what this is about and I am supportive of their primary need for appropriate leadership and social justice.
Yet, these judgments are sometimes passed before people even meet each other. Late-Deafened individuals are sometimes automatically judged as “not Deaf enough” simply because they could once hear.
(Ch. 61 of my storyblog of my journey into Deafhood…)
While I firmly believe in the ability for deaf parents to be good parents and raise healthy children, life as a deaf parent is not without its scary moments. One came when my son was just 3.
We were living in a small cottage isolated on a mountainside in the hills of Fairfax, north of San Francisco. Our cottage was so small that we had to share a bedroom with our son downstairs. My husband was away at work. I had just put my son down in his own bed for his nap and crawled into my bed nearby to catch a few winks as well.
(Ch. 60 of my storyblog of my journey into Deafhood…)
Deaf parents have been successfully parenting for ages. The majority of us have done so without adaptive baby care equipment or professional guidance. Being deaf does not prevent a person from becoming a parent. Nor does it mean that our parenting will be deficient or not up to standards. Hearing people should take note: We, deaf parents, learn quickly how to build on our personal and family strengths. We, as well as our spouses and children, learn to adapt.
(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.
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.
