One of the first times I realized that my mere existence had significant value to my patients was when a mom asked me if I had a boyfriend or husband. When I said yes and started sharing a little bit about him, her eyes welled up and her face broke with emotion.
Startled, I asked if she was okay. She took a few moments to wipe her eyes, nodded her head and said, “This means my son will be able to have a girlfriend and find love some day.”
My heart broke instantly. My patient's mother had created stories in her mind that no one would want to be with her son because he struggled hearing conversations. A story that he wouldn't be loved or to have someone to love and create a family with.
I powerfully felt as if my living (constantly learning and even thriving) with a hearing loss had given her the image of her perfect son back. I thought, "He's always been perfect."
Her son looked at me a little bit embarrassed - he had always been a quiet but confident teenager. With a half smile/half frown, he laid his hand on his mom's knee and said "She worries too much!"
I've said it before and I'll say it a million times again: "Parents, I believe it's harder on YOU than it is on us."
I looked at both mother and son. "You can do ANYTHING you want to do, you can BE anyone you want to be and you can HAVE anything you want. If you can imagine it, all you have to do is figure out how to make it happen." His eyes shone in agreement and with motivation.
I remember seeing my own mama crying one day and asking her what was wrong. She told me she wished that I didn't have to deal with hearing loss - that she would take it on for me instead. I don't remember this but my mom tells me I looked at her and cheerfully said, "It's ok, maybe this is the way God meant for me to be." She says they stopped looking for answers/trying to “fix” me after I said this.
You never know how much of a difference you can make in someone’s life just by being YOU.
