How did you feel when they confirmed your child/you had hearing loss? What's something your audiologist or ENT did WELL? What's something that you wish they did DIFFERENTLY? ⠀
These words are not mine - rather they are my mother's. I've heard her talk about me, my hearing loss, our journey to friends, family, etc but I realized I've never actually had a conversation with her about it myself. So I asked her today, "Mom, how did you feel when they told you?"
"I thought it was the end of the world," she said slowly with a solemn face. It wasn't even me "doing" it to her but it punched me in the gut and filled my eyes with tears. I felt her pain. I felt her distress. I felt her fear and devastation like never before.
Moms, I've seen this in your eyes and on your faces. I've delivered the news to you and I've handed you tissues. I've given you moments of silence. I've read your body language. I've sometimes even asked my student observers to leave. I've given you plans, hopes and shown you open doors. I've kept talking to give you a distraction from your numbness. I've done it well and I'm sure I've done it not so well.
One thing however: I've never felt it to my core like I did today when my mom shared her heart with me.
I proceeded: "What helped you through this?"
"Having support, having other moms like Mrs Lim. Having the Natural Communications group. Having Dr. Flexer. She told me you'd be okay. And you know what really did it? When you got your hearing aids, you didn't want to take them off. You wanted to change the batteries and take care of them. You told me you could hear the birds. You told me you could hear Daddy taking a shower. You told me you could hear my stomach grumble. That's when I knew you could tell a difference when you wore them."
I used to have a love/hate relationship with social media. But seeing the support, network, opportunity and connections that have been created since the start of @mama.hu.hears and that's already been out there gives me CHILLS.
Support one another, be there because you know what it's like and be there because it'll make a difference whether you see it or not.
