A Must Read....Jennifer's Post

My friend, Jennifer, posted a very moving and poignant post yesterday.....it is a must read! She shares her bilateral cochlear implant journey from her heart at SURROUND SOUND...

Part II - The People I Meet - 2009 HLAA Convention

Here are a few more pictures from the Convention. I don't want to leave anyone out but I didn't get pictures of all the new people I met there.Barbie & Ken (Sunny & Captain Mark Brogan)

I finally got to meet Mark's wife in person at the Convention. She is a sweetheart! And is so supportive and understanding of Mark's hearing loss. They make the cutest couple, don't you think?!!!

Sandy Cohen, Director of the Library Services for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing at the Nashville Public Library

Sandy has a BIG heart for the deaf & hard of hearing. She has worked hard for 10+ years at the Nashville Library to make sure that the deaf & hard of hearing have access to EVERYTHING they need. You name it, she has it. The Nashville Library Services for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing is the largest resource on this side of the Mississippi River. If you are ever in Nashville, this is a "must-see" activity, as well as the rest of the library, which is a gorgeous facility in the heart of Downtown Nashville.

Thom Roberts and I

Thom is the Executive Director for the TN Council for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing, which meets four times a year. I met him two years ago when he asked me to serve on the Council with him. He is also hearing impaired and amazes me with all that he does!

Valerie, Jenna, & I

Valerie and Jenna are mother & daughter and this was their first convention experience. I love these two ladies! Valerie has bilateral cochlear implants and got them AT THE SAME TIME several years ago (she's a brave woman)! Jenna is so supportive of her mom and reminds me of how thoughtful and considerate my own kids are for me with my hearing loss. I met them in Gatlinburg (which is only about 40 minutes from my house) last year when Jenna had a dance competition. Valerie writes a blog at Tales From A CI Gal about her CI journey.

Karin Robertson

I met Karin a few months ago when she started coming to our HLA of Knoxville meetings. I found out later that she was a past President of our chapter! She is still involved with the deaf & hard of hearing and works for the Tennessee School for the Deaf in Knoxville.

Me with Zac LaFratta

I met Zac last year at the HLAA Convention in Reno. He is going to Gallaudet University to become an audiologist. And he has a hearing loss as well. There is no limit to what anyone can do! There were several audiologists and hearing professionals at the convention, which amazes me because I thought one needed to "hear" in order to be in these careers.

Rosemary Tuitte and I

Another amazing woman! Rosemary is a regular participant in the HLAA CI Chat on Monday nights. We've chatted online and traded emails so it was such a delight to meet her and her hearing dog, Janet.

Jennifer Thorpe, Jeffrey Johnson, & Mike Turner

This picture was taken at the Volunteer Dinner the night before the Convention. Jennifer, Jeffrey and I volunteered (along with several others) at the HLAA Convention Table in the Nashville Airport the day before the Convention started. I met Jeffrey briefly at the Tennessee Walk4Hearing in Chattanooga the month before. We had a great time talking while assisting and greeting people flying in for the event.

Mike Turner and I have been friends for a while and he spoke at one of our chapter meetings about videophones and Hands On Purple VRS (Video Relay Service) about how the deaf, hard of hearing and even the hearing customers can have access to high quality communication services through video relay.

Me with Mike Turner's Wife, Colleen

Here I am with Mike Turner's better half, Colleen. We met for the first time this past February when I was in Nashville for a Council meeting and hit it off right away. I felt like we had been friends for years! Colleen was at the Convention every day, helping Mike with his booth in the exhibit hall. Colleen & Mike both have hearing losses and make a great couple.

Arlene Romoff and I

Arlene wrote the book "Hear Again" about her cochlear implant journey and how she regained her life back in the hearing world as a late deafened adult. This was our first meeting!

Deb McClendon and I at the Birthday Party Celebration

Deb & I also met last year in Reno. She is a bilateral cochlear implant recipent and is a hoot! She is very involved with her chapter in the San Diego, California area.

Tom Vorjohan The Magician

Tom provided some magical entertainment for a day in the exhibit hall. His tricks were incredible and amazing! He is also my neighbor and has a wonderful family. I always ask his kids to do a trick or two for me when they come to my door selling fund raising items for school! It must be fun to grow up with a magician in the house!

AND.....ELVIS!!! (Ken Arcia)

Part I - The People I Meet - 2009 HLAA Convention Pictures

The 2009 HLAA Convention in Nashville has come and gone but the memories remain.....here are some pictures for you to enjoy!

HLA of Knoxville Chapter

This is my local chapter (click on the above name to access our Chapter blog) and I was so pleased that some of our members were able to come and experience this convention. Every time I saw one of them, they looked like they were having a great time!

Mark Brogan and I

I am so PROUD of Mark! He shared his story at the Opening Night Ceremony about how he lost his hearing in both ears as a result of a suicide bomber in Iraq three years ago. When he first started coming to our meetings in Knoxville, I knew that there was something special about him. His story is incredible and he has been through a lot. His wife, Sunny, is his biggest cheerleader and they will be on the cover of the HLAA magazine in the near future.

Sam Spritzer & I

Sam is a very special online friend. We met each other via my blog in April of 2007 when he was starting his cochlear implant journey. We've kept in touch regularly online and he has a blog HERE. He had recently had scare last week with a heart attack and is so thankful to be alive. This picture was taken at the Nashville airport where I was volunteering and was our first meeting in person. I knew who he was right away when he started walking towards me with his smile!

Me with Judy Martin
Judy is the President of a HLAA Chapter in Florida. We've kept in touch online for quite some time. She has been a great help answering my questions and giving me support for the Knoxville HLA Chapter. It was fun to finally meet her in person!

Tracey & Susan
These two beautiful gals were my roomates this year. This was Tracey's first convention and she was very interested in the seminars and exhibits. Susan is the first person that I met with a cochlear implant and was the one who was so supportive and helpful when I started my CI journey. She has a blog HERE about her CI Journey. Both of these gals work as nurses in my ENT/CI doctor's office, so I was well taken care of!
Debbie & Steve Bottles
This wonderful couple are a sister and brother team from Idaho. I met them online in the HLAA CI Monday night chat and they are just as charming as they look! They both have cochlear implants and received them together at the same time a few years ago. And doing great! They have a blog as well at (Insert Blog here)
GIRLFRIENDS! (Click on their names to access their blogs)
Left to right: Me, Abbie, Tina, and Jennifer
I met all three of these gals via blogging. Abbie and Jennifer were my roomates last year and are great fun. Joining us in this picture for the first time is Tina from Washington, D.C. who writes about her young son's cochlear implant journey. Tina is a GREAT advocate for her little boy and is doing everything she can for him and other children with hearing loss. Abbie was the Convention blogger this year and you can access the Convention Blog HERE. Jennifer is the current President of the Nashville HLAA Chapter and had a beautiful welcome speech on Opening night. Sir Tom, Me, and Big Bear
I met these two men last year in Reno and and also online in the Monday Night CI Chat room. They both have cochlear implants (Tom has one and Big Bear has two.) Sir Tom and his wife, Judy, have been guests in our home twice this past year and are such a great couple. They brought their Wii the last time they came and we played games during their whole visit! Big Bear (Wayne) is has been part of HLAA for over 20 years and lives in New Jersey, working for Sprint CapTel.
My Brother, Doug!
I was SO excited when my brother decided at the last minute to come to the Convention for one day! Doug and I are the only ones in our family with a hearing loss. He came specifically for the Hair Cell Regeneration Symposium on Friday, attended some workshops and visited the exhibit hall. He would have liked to have stayed another day but was around long enough to experience what HLAA has to offer and meet some HLAA friends.
Just me and my Hubby!
Last, but not least, is a picture of my other half! The Convention was close enough to home that he was able to come over for one day. It was such fun to introduce him to the Convention experience and share how much it means to me. He also brought a friend from church, who wanted to get some information about putting in a loop system.

I don't think I stopped smiling for days! My face hurt from all the smiling, laughing, and talking we all did! But it was such a wonderful and uplifting time. I have more pictures to share but will save them for another post since it is challenging to upload so many at one time. Until then, enjoy!

The Main Event of the Year.....

....is one week away! It's the Annual HLAA Convention 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee from June 18th - 21st at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Resort. Ever since Jennifer and I went to our 1st HLAA Convention in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, we promised ourselves that we would not miss another convention. It was a life-changing experience for both us to meet with other people "just like us." And for the first time in our lives, it was a "perfect world" because we didn't have to struggle to hear or understand what was going on around us. Every single session and event is transcribed, captioned and interpreted. I, along with many others, look forward to this event and we are ALL getting excited about being under one roof again, seeing old friends and making new ones!

This year promises to be a FANTASTIC convention. I've "heard" that over 400 rooms are registered and that doesn't count the persons staying in nearby hotels or who live in or around Nashville. The workshops and seminars are wonderful and very informative. The Opening night features Vint Cerf, from Google who is considered to be the "Father of the Internet." He also has a hearing loss and his wife, Sigrid, has bilateral cochlear implants after wearing hearing aids for 50 years. I cannot wait to hear their stories and get their autographs on my HLAA magazine!

The Convention is also the 30th Birthday Celebration for HLAA and there will be a Birthday Party on Friday night. My neighbor, Tom Vorjohan, is part of the "entertainment" for the party and promises to be GREAT!

There is also a Research Symposium sponsored by the Deafness Research Foundation where they will be giving an update on the Latest Hair Cell Regeneration Research. My brother, Doug, is very interested in this research and is traveling from Ohio specifically for this. I'm so excited that he is coming and cannot wait to introduce him to the Convention experience and to my friends!

The Exhibit Hall is something to see & experience, as well. One can see and try many different assistive devices, cell phones, telephones, gadgets, weather alerters, fire alarms, and other new products and get a wealth of information on how to deal with and cope with hearing loss. Hearing aid and and cochlear implant manufacturers will have booths, too, for support and information. You can find out more about the exhibitors HERE! Even though the registration has closed online, anyone can still come and register in person for a day or two on site. And, entry to the Exhibit Hall for visitors is FREE with a pass that can be obtained at the registration desk. See http://www.hearingloss.org/ for more information.

An offsite trip to the Grand Ole Opry is planned, too! And if there is time, there is much to see and do around Nashville. I would encourge anyone to stop by the Nashville Library Services for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing in Downtown Nashville to see the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Section. Friday morning would probably be the best time for this trip. Due to recent budget cuts, the LSDHH library is only open from Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m - 2 p.m. or by appointment. Call the director, Sandy Cohen, at the library at (615) 862-5750 for an appointment to see this particular section. It is WORTH the trip!

If you cannot make it, you can keep up with the Convention through the Convention Blog starting on June 18th. Abbie Cranmer, is the featured Blog Host this year and she is absolutely wonderful. She was one of my roommates last year in Reno and has a great sense of humor!

I plan to be there early on Wednesday morning at the Nashville airport to greet anyone coming in that day! And will work at the Convention Booth until 4 p.m. I'll be the one with a big smile on my face (and will be wearing RED, my favorite color!) Hope to see you there!

P.S. If you are coming, leave me a comment or email me at ldpullinsATgmailDOTcom so I can look for you!

A Very Special Walk

Please CLICK HERE to see my Walk4Hearing Page!

On Saturday, May 16th,I'll be participating in the Walk4Hearing in Chattanooga on the beautiful and colorful Riverwalk at the Chattanooga State Technical Community College in Chattanooga, TN. This very special walk is a fund-raiser to support the Hearing Loss Association of America. I am walking this very special because hearing loss is a public health issue that is third in line behind heart disease and arthritis. If you have been reading this blog for the last few years, you are familiar with my "Dance With Sound." I have lived with a severe/profound hearing loss since the age of 2. I joined HLAA when I started my cochlear implant journey and haven't looked back since!

HLAA is a lifeline for those who are affected by hearing loss. I would not be where I am in my "dance" if it wasn't for the support of family, friends, and HLAA. I've been to two HLAA conventions in the last two years which have been life changing for me. For I have found my "people" because they, too, know the trials and struggles of living with a hearing loss. Through HLAA I have made many long lasting friendships and gained a wealth of information related to hearing loss.

The Walk4Hearing goal is to increase awareness about the causes and consequences of hearing loss. By raising funds, HLAA can provide information and supprt for people with hearing loss and make a difference. It is estimated that 31 million Americans are affected by hearing loss and 2 million of them are deaf. Many of them lack the much needed information and support that they need as they struggle to fit in the hearing world. HLAA advocates for those with hearing loss to enable persons to be all they can be and live full and productive lives.

Someone asked me a few weeks ago that if I could name the one person that has made a difference in my life, who would it be and why. I've been blessed with a great support system throughout my life with family, friends, teachers, mentors, coworkers, health professionals, and even strangers who were understanding and willing enough to help me when I couldn't hear or "get the message." But the one person that has influenced my life the most would be my mother. She was such a great advocate for me and my younger brother, Doug, and did everything in her power to help us be the successful persons we are today in spite of our hearing loss. And because of her love and dedication, I am now in a position through HLAA to "pay it forward" and advocate for others with hearing loss who may not have the support system they need to succeed. Mom lost her battle to cancer 17 years ago on April 8th but is still very much a part of my life today. So, on May 16th, I will honor and remember her by wearing her picture on my t-shirt as I walk and advocate for hearing loss.

My team on the Walk4Hearing page (Chattanooga, TN) is the Knoxville Chapter of HLAA. Our team goal is to raise $1,000 and I have set a personal goal of raising $500.00. I hope to exceed both of those goals. I am not used to being on the receiving end of fund-raising efforts and do not like to ask for money from friends & family, especially during these difficult financial times. But this is for a good cause and I know that some of you will be glad to help! Your donation in any amount will be greatly appreciated and you can give anonymously if you wish.

If you would like to make a donation by personal check, please leave a comment and I will be glad to give you my email & address information so you can mail your contribution to me. All checks should be made out to Walk4Hearing. Donations are tax deductible and you will receive an acknowledgement from HLAA for your tax records.

Your donation will mean so much to me! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your love and support for hearing loss.

Veterans With Hearing Loss

Please check out this news article. . . this featured veteran is a member of my HLA of Knoxville Chapter and is a wonderful young man. Mark Brogan is helping HLAA reach out to veterans nationwide who have lost their hearing as a result of their military service.

HLAA is offering a Complimentary Membership in HLAA for Vets of OIF and OEF and a free HLAA Convention 2009 Registration to Nashville. Mark and I have been working with HLAA on this project. For more information, go to the Hearing Loss Association of America website and click on the flag on the right side.

I'm so proud of Mark and he will be a great advocate!

2008 HLAA Convention Reno Recap

So much happened during my trip to Reno for the HLAA convention that I don't know where to start! I barely got my act together and got everything situated so I could leave for ten days. I have a husband that can pack a suitcase in 15 minutes but it takes me several days! I actually had to pack for two different locations for two different kinds of weather so that made it more challenging, especially when I could only take one suitcase. Airlines are now charging $25 or more for extra bags that are checked.

My flights were good and I really didn't have any major problems except the usual stress of wondering whether I'm at the right gate or on the right plane, etc. I have a love/hate relationship with airlines and flying. I love to fly but get very tired trying to make sure I know what is going on. I usually travel with Steve, who knows what gate to go to, where it is, when we need to be there, etc. so he usually tells me what is going on. When I am alone, it’s a different story. I am on “alert” and am constantly watching the monitors in airports regarding my flights. I cannot understand the loud and garbled messages being said over the intercoms so I just go right to the gate and let someone know that I can’t hear what they are saying. And ask them to let me know when it is time to board the plane. And they usually let me board first along with the first class boarders. I found out that airlines like to board deaf and hard of hearing persons first so that they stewards/stewardesses know where they are.

Airports are a source of frustration for me even if I can hear with my cochlear implants. The announcements at the gates are usually very loud and garbled and extremely difficult to understand, even for those with normal hearing. The people with normal hearing standing around me waiting to board planes seem to have difficulty understanding what is being said, too. They aren't much better on the planes when the stewardesses make the "flight speech." I'd like to see if there is a way to get airlines to put visual information at gates and on planes. The technology is out there and I intend to see if I can get something in motion. I have a “plan” and hope to make a difference with the major airports in Tennessee. This would benefit everyone, not just the deaf and hard of hearing. I’d like to make a difference with ALL airports but if I start small, maybe the others will follow suit. . . (I’m sitting in the Atlanta airport as I write this and the loudspeaker is BLARING in my ears!) Even the workers at the gate are putting their fingers in their ears during the announcements!

Anyway, as I was standing in line at the Salt Lake City airport wondering if I was at the right gate, a lady standing next to me asked if it was the flight to Reno. I told her I wasn’t sure because I couldn’t hear. She immediately asked me if I was going to Reno for the HLAA convention because she was too! Her name is Kathy and she was from SLC. We had a nice chat before we boarded the plane. And then, the lady who sat next me to me started making small talk and I quickly learned that she was going to Reno, also! The fun was already starting before we got there! I love meeting new people, especially those who understand the trials and tribulations of living with a hearing loss.

I got to Reno thirty minutes before Jennifer did so I got my bags and waited for her. And was at security when she and the Nashville gang got off their plane! I knew most of them but she introduced me to them anyway. What a great group of people! We all took the shuttle to the hotel, which was only about 15 minutes away. As soon as we walked into the Grand Sierra Hotel, we were in CASINO overload! I’ve never seen so many gambling machines and tables in my life (have never been to Las Vegas, either). Jennifer and I got checked in our room, which was absolutely gorgeous. See pictures below. . . I quickly learned that Abbie, our third roommate was having a “daymare” flight to Reno and was flying all over the country instead of her original nonstop flight to Reno. You can read about her experience here. I felt so bad for her because this was her FIRST time flying and I knew that she would have trouble hearing and understanding announcements, especially with last minute changes. She was supposed to arrive in Reno at 11 a.m. the day we got there but ended up in Houston, Phoenix, Los Angeles, & Alaska (of all places) before arriving after 7 p.m. (You can read about her experience HERE!)

Since Jennifer was at a dinner meeting, I met Abbie at the hotel entrance when her shuttle arrived. All I saw when she got off the plane was the silhouette of her body and outstretched arms because the setting sun was behind her and blocking her face. But, there was no mistaking who she was! And we were so glad to see each other! I quickly helped her with her bags and got her registered at the front desk. When we boarded the elevator, the button for our floor (the 17th floor) would not work! So we had to go up to the 18th and come back down!

Later, we met the rest of the incoming folks downstairs at Starbucks. We spent some time getting reacquainted with friends from last year and making new ones and taking pictures. I went to bed around midnight (even with the three hour time difference!) while Jennifer and Abbie stayed up later talking, etc. To be continued. . . (Jennifer has written several entries about our weekend and pretty much said it all! Go here and read her version. I will update soon!)

HLAA in Reno

Where do I begin to write? Four days at the HLAA Convention in Reno was not enough time to see all the things I wanted to see, spend time with all the friends I wanted to be with, take all the pictures I wanted to take, attend all the events & seminars I wanted to go to, and do all the things I wanted to do. There are so many thoughts I want to share with you all about the convention that I don't know where to start writing. . .

But, I will tell you this. . . I was with my "people!"

I thoroughly loved meeting the people whose blogs I read on a regular basis but had not met face to face. I was thrilled to see friends I already knew in addition to those from last year's convention in Oklahoma City (and missed those who couldn't make it this year.) Everyone I met was just as wonderful and funny and thoughtful as they are in their blogs, emails, in chat rooms, and on Facebook. And they look even better in person than they do in their pictures! From the time we walked through the hotel doors until we left, we hugged, laughed, talked, cried, played, and took a million pictures until we crashed! I smiled so much that my face hurt!

As I flew to Texas (to see my grandson & son & daughter-in-heart) from Reno after the convention, I looked out the plane window for a long time and reflected on my time in Reno. Being with such inspirational people is an emotional roller coaster for me. I completely melted and went into "convention withdrawal," if there is such a thing. I'm still trying to process it all. I had looked forward to this for a year and was so grateful AND BLESSED for the opportunity to be with so many wonderful people. . .who have a hearing loss just like me. . .those of us who live with deafness have a special bond that the "hearing world" doesn't always understand.

I'll write more in detail in the next few days as soon as I edit some posts I wrote on the plane. . . until then, enjoy these pictures!

Mike Royer (he's such a great and funny guy!)Abbie, Jennifer, & meMy Fabulous Roomates, Jennifer & Abbie!
Mike, Jen, Laurie, Abbie, and Zac La Fratta at the banquet

Related Blogs:

HLAA Convention Blog

Abbie's Blog

Jennifer's Blog

Jennifer's Convention Pictures

Sheila's CI Journey

My HLAA Photos on FaceBook

2008 HLAA Convention, Reno, Nevada!

I’m on my way to the annual HLAA (Hearing Loss Association of America) Conference in Reno, Nevada! I’ve been planning for this ever since the convention last year in Oklahoma City and can’t wait to see my friends again and meet new ones!

I barely got my act together and fell into bed after midnight last night when I finished packing. I’m probably bringing too much stuff but I got it all in one suitcase. . . and was so excited I couldn’t sleep!

Jennifer and I will be roommates again this year. . .we’ve been planning for this trip ever since the convention last year in Oklahoma City. This year we will add a third roommate, the famous Miss Abbie Cranmer, who graced the cover of the most recent HLAA magazine. (I brought my copy with me so I can get her autograph!)

This is absolutely the BEST conference in the world. Jennifer and I will represent the State of Tennessee at the Leader’s meeting tomorrow afternoon. We are getting to Reno a day early so we can do some sightseeing and relax a bit. HLAA has many wonderful activities planned, including a bowling tournament (write more here), vendors, seminars, etc. Go check out the HLAA website! I packed a duffle bag inside my suitcase because I always bring extra stuff home.

This conference is “four days of heaven” because it is a “perfect world” for the deaf & hearing impaired. Every room and event is captioned, has transcribers and interpreters, and the sound systems are wonderful. And there are others there with hearing disabilities. . . for a short time we don’t have to struggle to “get the message” and have a special bond with one another. I wish I had found this group sooner!

I’m sure all my blogging buddies will be writing about their experiences. I also hope to have time to write updates during the convention. . . watch this space!

2008 HLAA Convention in Reno, Nevada

Lake Tahoe, here I come! The 2008 Hearing Loss Association of America Convention is almost here and I am really looking forward to it! It is going to be held at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino at Lake Tahoe in Reno, Nevada from June 12th to the 15th. For those of you who are deaf or hearing impaired in some way (or know someone who is), this is four days of heaven!!! This convention is for YOU! And your support system. I have my registration packet purchased, my hotel room, my plane ticket, my hair curlers*, and am ready to go! There is much planning that goes into this convention and it's one of those things that I wished I had known about a long time ago. The exhibit hall is packed full of vendors and services for the deaf and hard of hearing. There are workshops, demonstrations, various speakers, book signings, parties, receptions, dinners, tours, etc. . . you name it. The best part is that for four days, a deaf or hearing impaired person feels "normal", like a hearing person in a hearing world. That is the best way I can think of to describe this feeling. It just seems so "easy" to communicate and share with others, who are "just like you."

I'm Still Here. . .Just Barely

This is just a short post to let my readers know that I haven't dropped off the face of the earth. . .I'm dealing with some "stuff" right now and trying to find "Christmas". . .

Tomorrow night is the Knoxville Chapter HLAA (Hearing Loss Association of America) meeting and I am busy getting ready for that. It is our annual Christmas party.

After much thought and prayer, I turned in my notice at work last week. My "boss" and supervisor did not want to take my resignation letter but they both understood my need to step back. I made it to my 10 year anniversary there and my last day will be December 28th. Next year promises to be a busier one with our business and I just can't do two jobs anymore, along with my other commitments and activities. I'll even have more time to blog! And hope to write "my book." I'm looking forward to this next chapter in my life but at the same time I will be sad to leave a wonderful group of coworkers and friends. . .

I'm still hearing new things and hope to find time to write about them this weekend. Hope this finds all of you doing well and looking forward to the holidays. All of our children will be home, including Jason and his new wife, Jessica. We can't wait!

A Very Special Announcement

I just checked the Governor of Tennessee's website (I've been checking it every day) and discovered that "the announcement" has finally been made for his recent appointments for various boards in the State of Tennessee. Go here and scroll about halfway down to the Tennessee Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. And you will see my name! This will probably be in the local newspaper here as well as several others. I also have a nice plaque and letter from Governor Bredesen.

I have known about this appointment since April but the Governor had the first rights to make the press announcement. This appointment as a citizen representative is for three years and I will travel to Nashville four times a year (all expenses paid) to sit on a council. I'm not sure of all of my responsibilities yet but I do know that I will be an advocate for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for East Tennessee.

Some of you are probably thinking that I don't need to add one more thing to my schedule. But I cannot pass up this wonderful opportunity. Now that I can hear well with two cochlear implants, this is a new chapter in my life. I know first hand what it is like to live with a hearing loss and the trials and frustrations that go along with not being able to "get the message" and miss out on so many things. I would not be where I am today without the wonderful support of my family, friends, coworkers, teachers, and other people who have been a part of my life all these years. Plus, our children are getting older and "leaving the nest," which will allow me to spend time helping others. So, I hope to be a voice for others who cannot hear and "pay it forward," like others have done for me in the past.

My first meeting is next month on August 24th. I'll give a small report on my trip to the HLAA conference in Oklahoma City. I also have been asked by the director of the Disabilities Office at the University of Tennessee to be a mentor for incoming deaf and hard of hearing students. While I'm in Nashville, I plan to spend some time with Jennifer and my Nashville relatives. It's a three hour drive from here and will be well worth it!

OKC Pictures

Joyce, Jennifer, Mike, & Laurie in the Advanced Bionics booth.

Jennifer, Laurie, Susan, and Dr. Norm on the Riverwalk in Downtown OKC.

Dr. Norm, Jennifer, & Laurie at the Banquet Reception.

Mike Royer & Joyce (Punky) at the Closing Ceremony Banquet

After Convention Thoughts

I didn’t sleep well the last night in OKC. That always seems to be the case when I have to wake myself up in time to catch a flight. I tried to be quiet in the room while Jennifer was sleeping but quickly realized that she can’t hear anything either when she takes her CI off! After we got up, dressed, and packed our suitcases, we went downstairs to the Starbucks lounge to get some coffee and breakfast. It wasn’t long before Dr. Norm came to our table to say hi. We had already said goodbye to him the night before and didn’t think we’d see him again. We ended up taking him to the airport since his flight was leaving about the same time mine was. Dr. Norm was such a sweetheart and we enjoyed his company. We are all married with kids, talked about our families, showed off pictures, and didn’t think twice about getting together for coffee or meals. He has a cochlear implant and is going to see about getting his other ear implanted when he returns home this week. Jennifer hopes to go bilateral soon, too.

This was my first HLAA convention and one of the recurring thoughts I had was, “What took me so long to find this group?” HLAA has been around for a long time and I didn’t know about it. For most of my life, I never “fit” in anywhere and spent many years in denial about my hearing loss. I didn’t know many deaf people because I lived in a hearing world. But, I didn’t fit in a hearing world either because I was hard of hearing and needed help to understand what was going on around me. This weekend, for the first time, I actually felt “normal,” and had the best time ever. The environment was almost stress-free and I didn't have to work so hard to "get the message." Everywhere we went, there were other people just like me. If someone's battery died while we were having a conversation, we stopped and resumed the conversation after the battery change. There was close captioning and interpreters available for all the workshops and events. The sound systems were PERFECT in every single room. Someone really knows how to set up sound systems for the deaf and hard of hearing and deserves a standing ovation. I truly felt like I was in a perfect hearing world because the environment so easy and comfortable. I didn’t miss out on anything. It would be nice if it was like this everywhere for people with varying degrees of disabilities.

Once I got back to the airport, I was "lost" again and couldn't understand the loudspeakers or when it was time to board my flight. I wore a button that I got at the convention that said, "Please, I hear you better when you face me" and actually had people helping me with my surroundings in the airport and on the plane. I plan to wear it everytime I travel. I'm not going to try to hide my hearing loss anymore. Even though I can hear well with my implants, my word comprehension is not perfect and I still need/like to look at people when I communicate.

I also saw a huge change in Jennifer. I know she felt the same way I did. She was so happy and relaxed. She enjoyed the whole weekend and moved with ease, even though she couldn’t hear very well. The best way I can describe it is that she was like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon. And she is ready to fly! One of the Indian dances we saw last night was a Butterfly Dance and it was beautiful. I like to think of all of us with hearing disabilities like butterflies . . . we are all at different stages in our lives. . . some of us are still caterpillars, some of us are still in our cocoons, some of us are emerging and breaking free, and the others are flying high. . . .

My favorite picture of Jennifer - does she look relaxed and happy??!!!

Next year the HLAA convention will be in Reno, Nevada. We will be there! (Doug, you need to come with us!)

I will end this post with some lyrics from a Michael W. Smith song, "This is Your Time." Don't put off until tomorrow when you can do something about your life today. Life is too short to wait for blessings!

This is your time. This is your dance.
Live every moment. Leave nothing to chance.
Swim in the sea. Drink of the deep.
Embrace the mystery of all you can be. . . .

Day 3 in Oklahoma City

Joyce and Mike knocked on our door yesterday morning and invited us for breakfast. This time I was ready but Jennifer wasn’t. We had the buffet breakfast and Mike had us laughing the whole time. Joyce is very pregnant with her third child and at one point she jumped back in her seat because the baby kicked her so hard!

Mike wanted to go see the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum so we all boarded the bus to see that. The trolley was only twenty five cents. I still remember the bombing that happened in Oklahoma City 12 years ago and will never forget that day. The Memorial was beautiful and very interesting. The reflecting pool was beautiful and one could feel the emotion in the place. As you walked in, you could see chairs on the lawn that represented all the people and children that lost their lives that day. The small chairs represented the children and the larger ones represented the adults. I realized that I didn’t have my camera with me so Jennifer let me take a few pictures with her camera. We wanted to go in the museum but didn’t have time because Mike had to return to the Advanced Bionics booth to work.

After we left Mike at the Convention Center, Jennifer, Joyce, Dr. Norm, and I went back to the coffee shop we had visited the night before. I could not find my camera in the hotel room and thought I might have left it there. Sure enough, it was there – with some extra pictures taken by some goofy coffee shop workers! I was thankful that I found it – that shows a lot about the people of Oklahoma City. The four of us had lunch at the Spaghetti Warehouse, walked around some more and got more souvenirs to take home.

We went back to the Convention Center, attended some workshops, visited more booths, and met more people. There was an ice cream social and we got more massages at the Cochlear booth. I also tried out a Bluetooth headset that would work with my CI and phone. This is the place to see and try out all the new gadgets!

I won several items at the silent auction and paid for those. I got a Starbucks basket with two coffee mugs, two bags of Starbucks coffee, a thermos and a Yahtzee travel game. I also won a basket with heart items in it. It’s going to be tricky getting all this stuff home in my suitcase! I gave Jennifer a mug and bag of coffee and told her that I would think of her as I drank my coffee in my matching mug! There was an ice cream social that afternoon at the Convention Center. Mike called me over to his booth and told me he had a free ticket to the banquet that night. I didn’t want to go without Jennifer but there were some extra ones for sale. So we bought a ticket and shared the price. We were told it was a dressy affair so we went back to our room to freshen up and change our clothes. We had originally planned to go out to eat again in the downtown area but we are so glad we didn’t because it started to rain and storm outside. We took the skywalk from the hotel to the Convention Center so we didn’t have to worry about getting wet.

The reception and banquet was nice. We found Dr. Norm again and talked with a few other people. The food was okay but the highlight of the evening was the Oklahoma Fancy Dancers. They were Native American Indians and were absolutely WONDERFUL! Their costumes were beautiful and they danced different dances for us as their lead singer/drummer played the drum. The narrator explained the different dances and history and we loved every minute of it. At one point the audience was invited to participate in a dance so we got to learn and dance with the Indians for a bit. They call themselves the First People and they were just so breathtaking and spiritual. My mouth was probably hanging wide open as I watched them dance. One guy danced with hoops and was fascinating because he put his whole body through them and made different shapes and figures.

I finished the shawl that I made so Barbara and her friend came to our room to pick it up. You can see a picture of it here on my knitting blog! She loved it right away. Jennifer and I stayed up late again talking and reviewing all the pictures we had taken. We are having so much fun and don’t want this weekend to end.

Day 2 in Oklahoma City

Day 2 was a fun and interesting day. Jennifer and I took our time getting up in the morning until Joyce came knocking on our door. She had Mike Royer with her and wanted him to meet us. I still had rollers in my hair and wasn’t dressed yet. I did meet him later in the Advanced Bionics booth and he is so funny! He accused me of having “contraband” in the Advanced Bionics booth when he found out that my implants were Cochlear and not Advanced Bionics. He is from Ohio like me and has family around the Columbus area so it is quite possible that we are related somehow. Jennifer, Joyce, & I had our pictures taken with him. Then we went downtown to walk around a little bit and see the sights. We shopped in a jewelry/souvenir store and I purchased two necklaces made by the owner’s mother, who is a Native Navajo Indian. Also got a flute CD and an Oklahoma magnet for the refrigerator. There is a river/canal that runs through the downtown area and it is so pretty. There are also buffalo statues everywhere!

I left Jennifer and Joyce downtown and went to sit on a panel at the Sheraton Hotel that I was invited to participate in. There were only three other gals there but it was extremely informative and interesting. Cochlear wanted some feedback from current cochlear implant users for the next generation cochlear implant that they are developing. DeeDee shared some features that they were working on and said that our feedback would be very valuable to their engineers. We were being filmed as we shared our backgrounds, how well we were doing, how long we had had our CI’s, what we liked and didn’t like about them, etc. One thing that Cochlear is working on is a wireless remote for cochlear implant users and DeeDee, our moderator, shared a PowerPoint presentation. She asked us what we like and didn’t like about the wireless remote, what we would change, what we would give up on our processors to make them smaller, and so on. I felt honored and privileged to be on this panel and hope I can do something this again. (Brad, I thought about you and wished you had been with me – you would have loved this!) One of the gals on the panel was Donna B. and I had met her online last year. We’ve traded emails but had never met in person before. We both were thrilled to finally have an opportunity to meet face to face! :-D

Cochlear had a booth at the convention and it was very nice and informative. They also had massage therapists on hand to give mini-massages. Believe me, I took advantage of that! My shoulders are very tight and sore – probably from traveling on the plane and carrying my purse and bags, etc. Cochlear’s booth also had a TV set up with a loop system. I was able to switch my processors on telecoil and could hear the TV directly in my ears with no interference. Steve wants me to find out how we can get a loop system for our family room so I can enjoy watching TV with him and the family.

While walking about the convention we met so many nice people. Jennifer and I met Dr. Norm, who is a retired chiropractor and Susan G., a sweet gal from Nashville, TN. Also, a lady by the name of Barbara came up to me and told me that she loved the shawl that I was wearing. I knitted this shawl two years ago and wear it everywhere to keep me warm in air-conditioned places. She caught me by surprise when she asked me if I would consider making one for her. I’ve never knitted something on commission before and had to think about that for a minute. I asked her what color she wanted and she said “black.” It just so happens that I am almost finished making a black one and have it with me. I told her how much the material cost and agreed to sell it to her. I can always make another one for me when I get home.

I also went to a seminar about how the deaf and hard of hearing can find the right cell phone for them. There were several representatives from the different phone companies on the panel and it was more of a sales pitch than anything. But, I learned that hearing aids and cochlear implants have an “M” rating. Cell phones also have an “M” rating. The ideal “M” combination for being able to hear on the phone with telecoils is between 6 and 8. So, if a hearing aid has an M2 rating and a cell phone has an M3 rating – those numbers equal M5, which indicates that the hearing aid and cell phone would not work well together. But, if the hearing aid or CI had an M3 or M4 rating and a person had a cell phone with an M3 or M4 rating – that would indicate the perfect combination. In all the years that I’ve worn a hearing aid, I’ve never known about M ratings or what my hearing aid ratings were. I also visited the telephone booths and like the Blackberries and Treo phones. All cell phone have a 30-day return policy, which means we can try out a phone and return it if it doesn’t work for us. Cell phone companies are aware of the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing and it is nice to know that they will work with people like us.
Later, Jennifer, Norm, Susan and I went out to dinner at Abuelo’s and it was fun. Norm and Susan had come to the convention alone so we invited them to join us. After dinner we walked around downtown and then went to the movie theatre to watch Evan Almighty. This was the first day of the movie and we had free tickets from the convention. The movie was close captioned and was so funny! For the first time, I could REALLY enjoy watching a movie at the theatre. We also received coupons for free popcorn and drinks. It can’t get any better than this! We walked to a coffee shop afterwards and then went back to the hotel to talk some more at the hotel lounge. Susan wears hearing aids and is very interested in cochlear implants and whether one would work for her. We talked until after midnight and then Jennifer and I went back to our room – we were both tired after a long day of walking around.

Day 1 in Oklahoma City

I made it! Oklahoma is FLAT! But I am having a great time here. I got up at 3:30 a.m. (2:30 a.m. Oklahoma time) and made it to the airport by 5 a.m. to catch my 6 a.m. flight. When I got there, I discovered that my flight was delayed an hour. That was fine because my layover in Cincinnati was one hour instead of being two hours and there was plenty of time to catch my connecting flight. The flight was uneventful and Jennifer was right there at the OKC airport to meet me. We had a fun and busy day yesterday and met lots of new people. Also met Joyce and Shari, who have blogs as well. Also met Terry Portis, his wife, Denise, and their new hearing ear dog. Mike Royer arrived last night and I hope to meet him today. (Royer is my maiden name and I'd love to see if we are related!) Jennifer and I are volunteers so we worked the silent auction table for four hours. There are 75 vendors with all kinds of booths to cater to the deaf and hard of hearing. I skimmed them yesterday but plan to take my time checking them out today, especially with the ones with the phones.

The opening session was well done and there were three screens up so everyone could see. I know I am sitting in a "loop" or special sound system because what I hear in my processors is so clear and crisp with no extra noise or interference. There are interpreters signing in the front of the room and of course there is close captioning on the screens. Jennifer commented that no one is going to look at the speaker because they will be looking at the screens! The keynote speaker was Dr. I. King Jordan, who was the former president of Gallaudet University and he was very interesting. He spoke about the recent controversy surrounding the new president of Gallaudet University and how there is no one way to be deaf or hard of hearing today. There are many degrees of deafness (some with other disabilities) and how what works for one person does not always work for another. We also went to a reception with some great Mexican food and got our pictures taken. We went back to our hotel room before the reception was over. I was fading fast and couldn't keep my eyes open.

Jennifer and I are having a blast and we are great roommates. We are staying at the Marriott Renaissance and it is very nice. Our beds are wonderful and I slept like a log the minute my head hit the pillow. I feel human today after my shower and cup of coffee. It is interesting sharing a room with another person who is deaf because we don't have to worry about waking each other up and can make all the noise we want! If you want to read her version about yesterday, go here!

Jennifer and I are going to take a walk this morning and see what is in this downtown area that we are in. I need to find a sweater - the convention center is COLD and I'm having a hard time staying warm. This afternoon I'm going to sit on a forum for Cochlear - they asked me to when I visited their booth yesterday. We're going to go back to the Convention to meet up with Joyce, sit on some seminars, and just have fun! More later. . .

Oklahoma City, Here I Come!

I'm busy finalizing things here at home and packing for the HLAA Convention in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. . . click HERE for the Convention 2007 blog updates on the weekend. See you later!

(I'll have my computer with me and hope to have some time to write.)

A CI Moment

I'm sitting here in the kitchen with my laptop computer and heard a faint crinkling type noise near me. You will not believe what it was. . .it! was! a! FLY! walking! on! tin! foil!!!! We had just finished eating dinner and the tin foil was laying on the counter. It took Chris and I a little while to locate the source of this unusual sound. Chris couldn't believe that I could hear it! I've also been hearing the water run into the icemaker in the freezer. I always notice the ticking of the clock on the wall when I'm in here. Kitchen sounds.

I'll be busy the next few days. . .am leaving tomorrow after I get off work to go with Marissa for orientation at the University of Tennessee - Chattanooga. We'll be back on Friday. And then, starting on Sunday, we'll have guests here in our home from Latvia for a week. The Latvia Youth Choir is coming to the U.S. on tour and the director, his wife, and son will stay with us. Should be a fun and busy time!

And then. . . on June 21st, I will get on a PLANE for Oklahoma City, Oklahoma for the HLAA Convention with Jennifer! I am so ready for a break and a little mini-vacation. . .