service dogs – Page 9

“Take a Deep Breath… and Trust Your Dog”

Published on November 15, 2008November 15, 2008 by hearingelmo4 Comments

Thursday was a particularly nasty, rainy day, and I dreaded “the walk down the stairs” more than usual. Funny thing about Meniere’s disease – rain and other types of weather systems can really make a difference in how steady I walk. I finally remembered my camera too, and I can’t tell you how many tries it took me to STAND AT THE TOP OF THESE STAIRS, on a RAINY DAY and TAKE A PICTURE! Grin!

The school I teach at is on the campus of a beautiful Nazarene church. It’s a “new campus” for us this year. I remember at the first teacher’s meeting hearing everyone laugh and remark on “Moses and the Red Sea” on the stairs. Me? I’m thinkin’, “You can look at a MURAL while going down the STAIRS?”

When I arrived at school on Thursday, I stuck my head in the door of the director’s office to grab some paper for the copier. She grimaced slightly and said, “Oh boy, is this rain affecting you today?” Actually, I made light of it and explained to her that really… this is just sort of a new kind of “normal” for me. I don’t really get up in the morning and think, “wow I’m really wobbly today”. This is my “normal”!

Meniere’s disease symptoms that fluctuate with weather systems, also usually produce worsened tinnitus. Meniere’s disease folks always have a hearing loss, but when tinnitus really kicks into “high gear”, those who are simply “hard of hearing” often hear very little when the tinnitus is in a full-out ROAR. I’m actually very blessed, because I hear through the miracle of a cochlear implant. My cochlear implant masks tinnitus, and so even on days my vertigo is worse, I hear just fine!

I showed my husband this picture of “the dreaded staircase”, and we laughed about how some of my “fears” have certainly morphed through the years. When we first got married 22 years ago, I had a very irrational fear of spiders (even little ones). Now I fear staircases, but I argue it’s completely rational! Smile!

I have to tell you though, it’s a very powerful emotion that burns through me when I take that first step down this flight of stairs. On “good days” it takes me about 2 minutes. On “bad days” it takes me about 5 minutes. Chloe is very intuitive. I don’t think she walks outside and sees the rain and puts that together with … “oh my we are going to be taking the stairs slowly today”. However, on “bad days” she patiently takes me all the way to the bottom, even if I have to stop and wait for the stairwell to stop spinning. (I even had to sit rather suddenly once, and she just sat there next to me looking around as if this was perfectly acceptable to her!)

I’ll never forget when we were first matched, I spent a great deal of one-on-one time with my trainer. Admitting to her that I was scared of stairs, insured that we spent some time at a local mall at the foot of a very tall flight of stairs! I remember turning to her with Chloe in “heel”, admitting with a quivering smile, “I’m going to have to do this slow!”

My trainer is a runner. She shrugged her shoulders and said, “Denise, this isn’t a sprint. If you need to take it slow, then take it slow.” So I did… and on that staircase came the realization that I really could trust my dog. If I were going slow, she would too. My trainer had me take the stairs at the mall, in the closed stairwell at the training center, and in her home. She never helped me look for a way around those stairs. Because of her, I go down stairs. I take a deep breath… and I go… down… the stairs. Why?

Because I can.

Chloe? Well she’s not real happy when the rain interferes with her “W – A – L – K ” at lunch hour. The van is boring.

Denise Portis

Harpers Ferry Sees a lot of US

Published on November 4, 2008November 4, 2008 by hearingelmoLeave a comment

Denise and Chloe at Jefferson Rock in Harpers Ferry State Park, October 2008

We go to Harpers Ferry a great deal. For one thing it is within “spittin’ distance” of our home. Secondly, the view and park is simply breath-taking. No matter what time of year we go, it’s beautiful. I keep telling Terry that when we retire one day, I want to live in the historic section of Harpers Ferry. (I think he thinks I’m teasing!)

Going to Harpers Ferry is much more fun than it use to be. For one thing, I love hearing the trains thanks to the miracle of “hearing again“. For another, I don’t have near the number of falling or stumbling accidents that I use too “pre – Chloe”. Having a hearing assistance dog who also helps with a great number of balance related tasks makes me much more independent. There is one flight of stone steps that I literally CRAWLED up prior to having her counter-balance on the left! I “see more” of Harpers Ferry than I use too! Grin!

Denise Portis

A Night in the Life of Our Family

Published on October 25, 2008October 26, 2008 by hearingelmo5 Comments

Kyersten is a guest writer on Hearing Elmo and does a fantastic job (in THIS mom’s opinion) of relating what it is like being a CODA (child of deaf adult) or as she prefers it: KODA (Kid of deaf adult). I think it’s important that readers “hear” the OTHER opinions and thoughts about how deafness affects a family. Sometimes those thoughts are sad. Sometimes those thoughts are angry. And sometimes? Sometimes it’s just really funny…

It was very impressive.

We watched as mom sailed over the gate. She flew gracefully in the air and landed rather ungracefully on the ground.

It’s not the fall that hurts, it’s the landing.

There was silence.

This is what she looked like:

Chloe, half asleep, sat up on the couch and peered down at Mom. This is what Chloe looked like:

(… well what she’d look like if she were a cat)

Mom said “ow”.

Chris stifled a laugh, quickly changing his face to the look of a concerned son.

I expressed casual worry, “You okay, Mom?”

Dad asked what happened, unfortunately having missed the dramatic gliding over the gate.

While worried about her, we were starting to get used to her lying on the floor, embarrassed and dazed.

Dad went to help her up. They looked for serious injuries. He helped her back to the couch.

And so we resumed our evening.

Kyersten is eighteen years old and lives with her dad, late-deafened mom, and 6’3″ “baby” brother in Maryland. To leave out mention of the menagerie of animals living there as well would be… wise – as she wanted this short.

Denise Portis

“Cane” Shopping

Published on October 24, 2008 by hearingelmo3 Comments

I’ve been a little depressed the past week or so. I took a pretty bad fall a “rainy weekend” ago, and had to follow-up with my doctor to make sure I hadn’t broken a leg, arm or rib. I was covered in bruises for a couple of weeks. I mentioned to my husband, that I noticed that if I use my umbrella on the right side (with Chloe in heel on the left), then I do much better on rainy days.

Falling doesn’t make me depressed. Bruises don’t make me depressed. Mentioning “it may be time for me to get a cane for rainy days”, and darling hubby jumping all over it? That made me depressed. I said it half in jest, but he was completely serious.

I’ve been falling all my life. I was one of those “accident prone” kids. I even remember one time in college, my RA told me, “Denise, you fall and run into stuff more than anyone I know!” What is interesting to note, is that I didn’t have a significant hearing loss in college. I only had a moderate unilateral loss due to a pedestrian vs. vehicle accident at the age of six. (The car won)

I didn’t begin losing my hearing (sensorineural hearing loss) until I had a couple of babies at the age of twenty-five. The hearing loss continued in both my ears for over a decade before I did anything about it. All the while, I continued to “fall and run into stuff” a great deal. It’s never been strange for me to be sporting bruises. (The “ATTIC STORY” has become rather infamous!)

Somewhere along the way I developed a mild form of Meniere’s disease. Without my cochlear implant and/or hearing aid, I have constant tinnitus. But it is “manageable”, and I’m quite accustomed to the constant ringing when I’m not utilizing technology and bionics to hear. I sleep very soundly “in spite of”. Along with the tinnitus, however, I began to have vertigo and other balance problems. It is worse when it’s a rainy day, so I know the weather affects it. There is very little one can do for Meniere’s. I cut down on salt, take Manganese tablets, and try to get a lot of rest.

Regardless, on rainy days I have to move carefully and methodically. Chloe acts as a great counter-balance on stairs, ramps, inclines, slopes, etc. However ceiling fans, fast moving bodies (like students running), or loud noises make the dizziness worse. I face a flight of stairs “round trip, each school day. I would think the stairwell is about 8 feet wide, but it is DEEP and STEEP. Just standing at the top of the stairs and preparing to descend, the whole stairwell starts to spin, and I lose a great deal of my peripheral vision due to the vertigo. It can be terrifying, but I’m confident for the most part and Chloe certainly adds stability. On rainy days, however, you can multiply that terror times TEN.

If I happened to fall down THOSE stairs, there is no doubt I would break something. It’s not that I’ve never broken a bone before! My word, I’ve broken a femur, toes, fingers, my sternum, and cracked multiple bones as well. But I’m rather terrified of that stairwell. Perhaps it’s because I’m afraid I’ll hurt Chloe. Perhaps it’s because I know how it would completely freak out the director of my school! (grin)

To humor hubby, I’ve done a little “cane shopping” online. At least some of them are pretty.

But darn… I’m depressed! I find myself asking, “Has it come to this?”

But you know what? I can’t sit around feeling sorry for myself very long. I was taught to “belly-ache if you must”, but then recall how blessed you are! And truly… I am very blessed. With my cochlear implant I hear better than I had ever hoped to “this side of Heaven”. I have a wonderful and supportive family, and a super assistance dog who loves to work. The blessings FAR outweigh my little problems with balance.

I have learned to poke fun at myself when needed, and it has certainly made others more comfortable around my implant, assistance dog, and even dizziness. But I really hate falling…

For now I’m “in shopping mode”. At least they aren’t very expensive! At least I’d only need one when the weather is bad. At least some are pretty! I could add a whole list of “at leasts”! I suppose that’s a form of counting your blessings.

For now, I’ll just “window/monitor” shop. At least… until hubby brings it up again.

Denise Portis

Learning the HARD Way

Published on October 14, 2008October 14, 2008 by hearingelmo6 Comments

Don’t you hate “lessons learned the hard way”? I must be one of those stubborn “souls” that must learn things by bearing the consequences of unheeded warnings. As a child, I’m sure my mother probably warned, “Clean your room or no watching Sesame Street and ELMO”. Knowing ME, I likely closed that door on the messy room in hopes “out of sight, out of mind” worked with my Mom. (Does that EVER… work with MOM?)

Even as an adult, I can still be stubborn. I have a hearing loss, but “hear again” (in ideal situations) through the miracle of a cochlear implant. I have balance problems due to a mild form of Meniere’s disease. But every “lesson” I’ve learned, I’ve learned the hard way. Anticipating possible consequences was never something I sat around contemplating. For me… it had to “happen” before I learned to make necessary changes.

These lessons include:

My Hearing and Hearing Assistance Dog

1. Have Size 675 batteries EVERYWHERE. In the car and van, in Chloe’s vest, in my purse, in my training bag, in my Bible, in my jewelry box, on my dresser, and in Chloe’s treat bag. Failure to not have them EVERYWHERE, results in my being caught “deaf” when my cochlear implant dies.

2. When I get my “20 minute Beep” from my CI, start digging for batteries right away. Otherwise, when those 20 minutes are up, I’m left having a conversation with someone with my mouth dropped open in surprise at the sudden silence.

3. Have “clean up” bags everywhere for Chloe. I even carry them in her vest pocket, that way they are always handy. Just because she goes “potty” like clockwork at the SAME time, every day, does NOT mean that she will never “up and decide” she needs to go at some random location! Failure to carry them with me all the time, means that I have to come back to that place to “pick up” after running home for the bags!

4. Tell Chloe a basic obedience command once. If I say it four or five times, she will learn to ignore me. Or worse yet, she “counts” and waits until I’ve said “Chloe sit” 5 times before doing it! Give the command after her name ONE TIME, and then correct with an immediate correction should she fail to follow through.

5. If I don’t hear what someone says… even simply PART of what someone says… do not pretend I completely understand. Failure to clarify means I will likely say “that’s nice” when someone tells me their aunt passed away, when I thought they said “My aunt’s pants are gray”.

6. Follow up important meetings with an email. This insures I have received all the information correctly, and will even remind the other person about deadlines and issues we discussed. Failure to follow-up will likely result in my forgetting something important as I did not hear clearly.

My Balance and Assistance Dog

1. I wear bangs so that I don’t have to deal with the peripheral of ceiling fans. Those suckers are EVERYWHERE! My bangs keep me from easily seeing the rotation, resulting in fewer “tumbles”. If I wear my hair without bangs because of fashion, I’m usually “in style” but looking up at the concerned faces of people standing over my prone body.

2. Stay away from caffeine during the day. Morning coffee is fine. Soft drinks all day only insure that I am banging into everything by bedtime.

3. If asking Chloe to brace, check our immediate surroundings first. If she sees a family member nearby, she may “wiggle” in a brace causing me to fall.

4. Do not allow anyone to pet Chloe in vest EVER. If I break my own rule, Chloe will never understand not to “visit” when in vest. Her moving suddenly or reaching for an outstretched hand means that I will fall. I will fuss at friends and family members should they think “Do not Pet” does not mean them.

5. If Manganese is suppose to help the tinnitus and balance problems, then for Heaven’s sake TAKE THE MANGANESE. It takes a good 3 weeks for enough to be built up in my system to work. Pretend the Manganese is something important… like birth control or something! If I don’t take it regularly, then I continue to have frequent symptoms.

6. If someone close to me (KYERSTEN) begs me to ride a roller coaster, or other amusement park ride that actually MOVES in more than one direction, insist on watching from the sidelines. It’s not like Chloe would enjoy it either! Caving in to begging daredevils (KYERSTEN), simply means I’ll be sniffing smelling salts later.

7. When taking a bath, do not lock the door. Chloe can do a lot of things, but she can’t unlock a door should I fall. (Like last night… behind a locked door… with a concerned assistance dog looking at all the bubbles thrown everywhere and unable to go get help!) Leave the door unlocked. You can always throw a bar of soap should someone come in without permission. (Not that the AIM of someone with balance problems is that great… but I can SCREAM).

Denise Portis

I May be NAKED, but I HEAR Well!

Published on October 7, 2008October 7, 2008 by hearingelmoLeave a comment

Gingery’s Baby Pegasus (Owner: Kyersten Portis, one of the writers of Hearing Elmo)

Pegasus may be naked as a jay-bird, but he has excellent ears. (Side note: Exactly HOW naked is a “Jay Bird”? Has anyone ever really looked that up? Food for thought… )

As a matter of fact, Fidos For Freedom, Inc., the organization from which my hearing assistance/balance dog Chloe comes, also trains Chinese Crested as hearing dogs. It doesn’t matter if you have very little hair. You can not only be a great pet or show dog, but you can actually be trained to assist someone with a disability. (What a PLUS to be hypo-allergenic as well! Chinese Crested have HAIR, not FUR).

Working dogs come in all shapes and sizes. It reminded me of what “hearing loss” looks like as well. “Hearing loss” doesn’t “look like” any one thing. Its causes are as varied as a dog’s “looks” or “degree of hair”. Fever, ototoxic drugs, accidents, genetics and “cause unknown” are all reasons a person may have a hearing loss.

Different ages of people can develop hearing loss. Some children are born with hearing loss, and thanks to infant hearing screening, many are discovered at a very early age. This helps in the long-run with speech development and language skills.

Some women develop hearing loss after having children. The link has yet to be clearly defined by doctors. (My own progressive hearing loss began after having children).

Some people do not develop hearing loss until they have worked a long period of time at a particular “noisy” job. (My father-in-law worked as a printer for decades. All that time around noisy machinery has taken it’s toll).

Some people have SHL, or “sudden” sensorineural hearing loss. Many of our soldiers are coming home with significant hearing loss due to road-side bombs and other “war noises” they are exposed to each day.

Some people have “age-related” hearing loss. How many of you have grandparents who now wear hearing aids? (or should – grin)

Hearing loss is not a “respecter of persons”. It can affect every age, gender, race, or religion. Economics, education, nor “looks” prevent someone from having a hearing loss. Hearing loss is wide-spread. (In the U.S., alone there are over 36 million people with hearing loss!)

Particular personality types are not exempt from hearing loss. If you are sanguine and outgoing, hearing loss is just as devastating to you as it is to a quiet melancholy.

Hearing loss and personality types? Sounds like the title of a blog post. (I’ll get started on that and ask my psychologist hubby to write!)

Denise Portis

But I’m afraid…

Published on September 9, 2008September 10, 2008 by hearingelmo4 Comments

But I’m afraid…

This morning my assistance dog, Chloe, was out on the porch barking her head off. I’ve never appreciated how she looks without a head, so I found myself hustling outside to see what all the fuss was about. At first, I couldn’t figure out what she was barking at, but it was very clear that Chloe was afraid. Each muscle in her 4 legs were trembling with fear and tension, her forehead was wrinkled, and she whined in between high pitch barks! I had to step closer in order to finally see what she was fixated on… a tiny bird feather.

Now I’m the first to brag that my working dog is a very smart canine! She loves to learn, loves to work, and loves to train! But sometimes… her fear keeps her from putting all the pieces together. Sometimes… she needs help to look past her fear and approach things a little more logically. I continued to reassure her that everything was fine. I wanted her to investigate it a little closer with a little more, erm… backbone! Grin!

Me: “Chloe… it’s OK girl! It’s just a feather, and it won’t hurt you. Show me! What is it?”

Chloe: (Looks at me like, “Don’t you SEE? Oh my gosh! LOOK! Show you? But I’m afraid…“)

It seems that feathers have a smell… at least they do if you are a dog. Chloe could smell a recent “alive kind of smell“. When she would get close enough to sniff the feather, her sniff would MOVE the feather… and much to her dismay TOWARDS HER!! Therefore, Chloe was convinced it was alive! What does a hound dog do when they think something is alive? They bark! When Chloe would bark at the feather, it would move even MORE, but away from her! Feathers are so light that they tend to want to follow the natural rules that feathers follow when applying physics… a hound dog’s hot air.

Even holding the feather in my hand, had her cowering in fear! I sat on the porch and talked to her, all the while holding the feather out towards her. Finally, she crept up behind me and with head on my shoulder sniffed and huffed at the feather in my hand. I could feel her trembling, with her fearful “self” pressed up behind me! Eventually a good, stiff, Maryland-September breeze picked the feather up and flew it up over the railing and out into the yard.

Chloe cocked her head to the side and looked at me like, “Well! What did you do THAT for?”

She was afraid of the feather, but wanted the feather.

But I’m afraid…

Last night I attended our school’s kick-off meeting. All the teachers were present, and I knew I would face supper, entertainment, games, dessert, announcements and fellowship. I have to admit it was something I had to make myself attend. The night before I had even cried all over my husband, trying to find a way to get out of having to go!

When you have a hearing loss, there is just something incredibly intimidating about going to a group function that reverberates with the background noise of a large number of excited and “pumped” teachers! I planned in advance, and made sure my cochlear implant batteries were fresh so that I wouldn’t “go dead” in the middle of a conversation. I brought some assistive listening devices that work in conjunction with my t-coils on both my CI and my hearing aid. Due to some recent rains, I knew I was wobbly enough to need Chloe’s special collar. I was prepared. I wanted to go. I needed to go. But I was afraid…

I talked to my director via email prior to going. I’ll admit that I was trying to see if it was something I did indeed have to attend. I did… and my director knew I needed to for more than the information we received as teachers. She knew I needed to go in order face my fear.

My fellow teachers are very nice people. I WANT to get to know them better… to even gain the treasure of a friend or two. But in year’s past I’ve seen the look of panic when I put a microphone nearer their face in order to hear them better in a crowd. I’ve seen their faces as they inwardly castigate themselves as they said something behind their napkin and I had to ask, “Pardon?” (I’m a transplanted Southern gal, what can I say?) I’m 100% sure that if these teachers knew how afraid I was of them, they would be devastated!

In my HEAD, I know that I have nothing to fear. And yet, when I go to these things I find myself saying, “But I’m afraid… ”

My consolation, is that it is getting better. The more functions I attend like this, the more comfortable I become. The “feather moves”, and I’m a little jumpy about it; however, I’m learning it’s just a “feather”.

I’m thankful I do not seem to have the same illogical fears towards my students. Young people seem so incredibly natural towards me. If I have to ask a student for a repeat… seven different times… they cheerfully do so without any visible qualms at all. Perhaps it’s because my classes are “electives”, (although many take them as alternative foreign language). I know they CHOOSE to be there, and it doesn’t bother them that their teacher has a hearing loss. I do not feel disabled around them.

With my peers it is different. I hope it isn’t always so.

I want to attend meetings like these, but am afraid of meetings like these.

At least with fellow teachers, I am becoming stronger and more confident. Perhaps I need a good, stiff, Maryland-September breeze to convince myself I’m in a “safe place”. At least with every one I go to, I’m less “trembly”… and heck! I quit barking months ago!

Denise Portis

Psalm 56:3: “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.

Visiting College with a Hearing Loss

Published on July 29, 2008August 19, 2008 by hearingelmoLeave a comment

Yesterday Terry, Kyersten and I went to college.

We are blessed that our kiddos get to go to their first two years “free”, as long as they attend where “Daddy” works! Needless to say, Kyersten is enrolled in Anne Arundel Community College this Fall!

The first hour, Kyersten stayed curled up with a computer somewhere while Terry and I went to visit one of his bosses. Charlene was very nice, and Terry had “coached” her how best to communicate with me. Her office was very quiet, which helped a great deal. Noisy environments are tough places to try to have a “hi, how are you?” conversation with a new person. For some reason the subject of Kyersten always comes up (Is she excited? Is she single? What does she like to do?) at AACC, when the other person has a college-aged SON. I suppose I should get use to that!

Terry and I then went to get Kyersten and we “walked” through her class rotation. She opted to do all of her classes on Tues/Thurs this first semester. She is taking 13 hours, so that’s only 4 classroom locations to find. Easy, right?

The campus is beautiful and is set in the middle of a park, really! Foot bridges, walking paths, gardens, and wildlife abound… much to Chloe’s chagrin as she was “in vest” and working! We got turned around a couple of times trying to find all of Kyersten’s classes. Part of the problem, was that Terry kept looking for elevators as he knows I don’t take stairs well. When I finally figured out what he was doing, I made him go back and “show Kyersten the way” minus the elevators. So I had a few flights of stairs to climb, but did great with Chloe next to me. We had a storm front come through over the weekend, so my balance was still a little “off-kilter”. I’m glad that Chloe actually brings attention to the fact that there is “something different” about me. It discounts any possibility that I’ve been drinking, as my gait can be a bit wobbly when my Meniere’s symptoms are subsiding! At least I was able to get a lot of great “staircase” training in with Chloe. I usually avoid them, but do need the exposure to this “danger” in a controlled environment occasionally!

It struck me as funny and yet ironic, that as she stood in each classroom making comments about places she’d like to sit, I found myself looking for the “best place to sit” as well. Where a person with hearing loss would sit, however, is a little different than where a college-aged freshmen would sit!

The bookstore was a madhouse, but we bravely entered the foray and muscled our way to the nearest student employee. Service dogs are well known at AACC, so Chloe was ignored and allowed to work for the most part. She was totally bored in a down/stay, even amidst the mayhem of a college bookstore before classes start! All that great “noisy environment” training at Fidos For Freedom is worth it! After trying to fight my way through the narrow isles, I finally just went and waited with Chloe over to the side as Kyersten was in “good hands”.

Kyersten was so excited the rest of the day! I’m sure that walking through her rotations, finding all the student “hang outs”, and meetings some of the students made it seem more “real” to her. Even buying textbooks brought it “home” to her that she is getting ready to start a new chapter in her life! The kid loves books! She poured herself into them the remainder of the day! I don’t have to “hear perfectly” to recognize the excitement in her voice! There are numerous campus Bible studies and clubs for Christian students at AACC. She has already begun to touch base and will very likely be immersed in “college life” by mid-August.

Am I ready for this? (yeah! I am!)

Denise Portis

Prepare Your Feet

Published on July 15, 2008July 15, 2008 by hearingelmo2 Comments

As she is a service/assistance dog, I work hard at keeping Chloe in great shape. I maintain her weight, bathe her, brush her teeth, groom her, and take care of her feet. Chloe is usually fast asleep when I give her a pedicure. I guess she only gets pedicures! She can’t have a manicure being she doesn’t have hands… only feet! Chloe gets her nails clipped and then dremeled, and the hair on her feet is trimmed away to keep debris from getting in her footpad hair, and to allow maximum traction. I “prepare her feet“, because she has an important job.

As a person with hearing loss, I have to “prepare my feet“. I can’t just get up every day, with little to no preparation and expect to function at my best.

Physically:

I “prepare my feet” by making sure I get a good night’s rest. Fatigue can be a real enemy of a person with hearing loss. It takes extra effort to read lips, “listen”, and communicate. I try to eat right, and eliminate salt and caffeine as much as I can to help me manage Meniere’s symptoms.

Mentally:

I always reflect on communication disasters in order to better prepare for the next problem. To “prepare my feet” mentally, I dissect failed communication situations and attempt to discover what I did RIGHT, and what I did WRONG. I have even role-played with my family members or HLAA chapter members in order to better discover situational communication strategies that work better for different personalities.

Emotionally:

“Preparing my feet” emotionally is difficult. I am an emotional person. A true “melancholy”, I have all the strengths and WEAKNESSES of this personality. I remember that by responding positively and with grace, it will normally yield patience and understanding from those hearing folks I’m in contact with each day. I try very hard not to take things personally, and to not live in a defensive and paranoid manner. I remind myself that those closest to me are impacted by my hearing loss as well. I should extend the same grace that I desire from them.

Spiritually:

As a person of faith, I am very conscious of how important it is to “prepare my feet” spiritually.

First and foremost, I recognize that God is truly the only one that can meet the needs of this many times self-centered, pessimistic child. I rest in the fact that He alone communicates with me perfectly. I can even remove my CI, “climb up in His lap” and pour my heart out. I “hear” Him just fine and acknowledge that I should read His word daily.

Secondly, I know that just as His Son washed the feet of His followers to show what true servant hood is, I need to “prepare others’ feet” to show that my own spiritual feet are prepared. I want to help people… especially those with hearing loss.

I openly and frankly admit that I often do not know how to do that at this stage in my life. I have a tiny, “baby” HLAA chapter that is struggling due to lack of volunteers. I no longer have speaking opportunities and venues in which to speak to those with hearing loss. And yet…

… doors are opened to me almost daily to reach out in some way. This past week, I’ve talked to a television station reporter about hearing loss, touched base with Walk4Hearing contacts, heard from numerous readers from a “hearing loss blog” network, and while running errands meet individuals who notice my CI bling and ask questions. Being a servant simply means being available. To be available… “prepare your feet“. You will be surprised at the number of doors opened in which you can make a difference in someone’s life.

Denise Portis

A Number of “Firsts”

Published on July 14, 2008July 14, 2008 by hearingelmo1 Comment

Kyersten (my 18-year-old daughter) and I went to Florida last week to stay with my parents. It was a “senior” trip of sorts. We didn’t really DO anything, but both of us needed a week of “not doing anything”. Mom and Dad had company the week before we came, so I think they were perfectly fine with Kyersten and I coming to read, walk, “hang-out” and practice laziness.

Chloe didn’t do well on the plane trip there. She has flown a great number of times with trainers, but this was only the third time with me. We only travel by plane about 2 times a year now. That’s infrequent enough that she is still nervous. At least on the plane ride home, she did better thanks to some homeopathic, herbal help from Rescue Remedy.

Chloe is trained to do a “stand/stay” while being searched for security purposes. We even practiced this at Fidos For Freedom the Saturday before we left for our trip. Chloe has so much metal on her due to 6 tags, collar, vest, etc., that she always sets the security bells and whistles off. (I find it amusing that my cochlear implant, hearing aid, etc., all allow me through without problem!) The security lady asked me prior to searching Chloe… “Does she bite?” I assured her with a grin that “she doesn’t bite, but she may KISS you!”.

Wouldn’t you know that Chloe would go all a-wiggle with the search, kissing the agent to the point that it plopped her on her behind? She was laughing so hard she could hardly “search” Chloe correctly. The laughter only made Chloe more excited. Chloe can be SO professional when needed! (eye roll)

We had a series of “firsts” that I thought I’d post through picture/caption. They may not have been complete “firsts” for her as Chloe was raised by a puppy raiser, and then trained in a couple different trainer’s homes. But they were FIRSTS for “us”.

FIRST! Florida heat and humidity!

FIRST! Florida sunset!

FIRST! Florida thunderstorm! (And I could “hear” it! Was I thrilled or what?)

FIRST! Learning hardwood floors are cooler!

FIRST! Indoor pond in a “birdcage”

FIRST! Pond goldfish IN the indoor pond!

FIRST! Porch swing… and Grandma’s Cockapoo, Simba!

FIRST! Sandhill Cranes! Kyersten told me they sounded like “Velocoraptors” from Jurassic Park. They certainly weren’t scared of Chloe. They were aggressive!