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Hi Cheri,<br>
Yes I am fortunate to be alive and well today. No brain trauma or
damage. Just damage to my nerves in my left side of the face where
I'm still paralyzed today (left facial paralysis). The doctor said I
was lucky to have a head strong like a rock. Some people could have
died from that type of injury that I experienced. Anyway, thanks for
the nice comment. <br>
<br>
--S.W. <br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 3/20/2014 3:27 PM,
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Cherifields@aol.com">Cherifields@aol.com</a> wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote cite="mid:2f582.19779f13.405cc556@aol.com" type="cite">
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<div><font size="4">Hey Shadow Wolf,</font></div>
<div><font size="4">I was saddened to hear of your accident. It
is almost like a miracle that you can hear again out of that
ear. I hope that you didn't suffer any long term brain
disorders as a result of this accident. </font></div>
<div><font size="4">It sounds like you are doing much better
since the CI surgery. </font></div>
<div><font size="4">Blessings,</font></div>
<div><font size="4">Cheri</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>In a message dated 3/20/2014 7:37:42 A.M. Pacific
Daylight Time, <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:soulalibi@gmail.com">soulalibi@gmail.com</a> writes:</div>
<blockquote style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px;
BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR:
transparent" color="#000000" face="Arial" size="2">Hi
Darlene,<br>
Nice to meet you. I was at HKNC for 11 months. I took full
advantage of <br>
the training they offered there. I took up whatever
classes they offered <br>
besides just learning Braille, Technology, ASL-TSL-Haptic
Signs and <br>
Independent Living. I even took Sr. Bernie's presentation
class last <br>
fall prior to her retirement last Dec. after 34 or 35
years she worked <br>
there. It was a great learning experience.<br>
<br>
I first started wearing hearing aids in both ears at 6
years old. I lost <br>
my hearing as a toddler. I was told I had RP during my
early teens once <br>
I was diagnosed. But I was still driving up until I was
24. Then later <br>
on, around in 2010. I was told I had Usher's type-2. I was
confused <br>
about that, because Usher's also affects balance. Whereas
I do not have <br>
balance issues. In fact, I think most people with Usher's
type-2 do not <br>
have balance issues.<br>
On New Year's eve 2000, I was involved in a really bad car
accident. <br>
Although I was not a driver but a passenger. I suffered
head trauma <br>
where I also suffered an ear fracture in left side. I lost
my hearing in <br>
that ear 2 days later. For 9 and half years I was hearing
with only 1 <br>
ear, a hearing aid. My left ear was my better ear then. If
you are a <br>
right hand person, writing with a right hand, it was like
losing your <br>
right hand and trying to write with your left hand. Same
with my hearing <br>
after that accident. I had communication issues and kept
to myself <br>
during most of that time. Until one day in fall 2009, I
got lucky and <br>
became a candidate in my state to receive a Cochlear
Implant. After all <br>
is said and done. After 3 months of my brain trying to
adjust to my CI <br>
and hearing in my left ear again. My left ear where my CI
is, became the <br>
better ear once again. I now understand people best with
my CI. It is <br>
loud and clear. The CI boosted my communication skills and
gave me a <br>
great deal of confidence. I am now happy that I received
the CI and I <br>
hold no regrets about it. It is medically amazing that the
CI can <br>
restore your hearing if someone suffered dramatic hearing
loss from an <br>
ear fracture. I admit I was skeptical at first when I
first sat down <br>
with CI specialists prior to my surgery. I didn't think it
was gonna <br>
work. But I was wrong. The CI did work for me.<br>
<br>
--S.W.<br>
<br>
On 3/20/2014 4:49 AM, Darlene Laibl-Crowe wrote:<br>
> Good morning, Shadow!<br>
><br>
> Welcome to the NFB DB Division. I, too, have RP and
am HOH. I wear<br>
> bi-lateral hearing haids. But I did not grow up
knowing that I had RP. I<br>
> found out as an adult at the age of 28 and had to
give up driving. I was<br>
> able to see to read print and see people's faces to
read lips to accommodate<br>
> for what I could hear for about 22 years after I was
diagnosed with RP.<br>
> That means when I turned 50 almost 6 years ago, I
struggled with what to do<br>
> as I could not longer see to do things that I kept
doing as a sighted<br>
> person.<br>
><br>
> Since I grew up wearing hearing aids, I never
considered myself a 'deaf'<br>
> person and can remember someone telling me 'oh,
you're deaf' when I told<br>
> them I wore hearing aids. I quickly responded and
told them 'oh, no, I can<br>
> hear something'.<br>
><br>
> So six years ago when I began to struggle with vision
loss, I finally met<br>
> many who were dealing with similar issues and I
recognized that I was<br>
> Deaf-Blind. Once I was able to define this, I soon
went to Helen Keller<br>
> National Center (January 2011 -- September 2011)
where I learned much about<br>
> my specific needs. HKNC is a great place to learn
all you can about<br>
> resources and gives a great sense of confidence.<br>
><br>
> Since returning home, I have continued to learn and
made great progress.<br>
> How long were you at HKNC? Also, if you are home,
are you learning Braille<br>
> through Hadley's?<br>
><br>
> That was how I completed my Braille...through Hadley
School for the Blind.<br>
> The Braille teacher at HKNC was very good and so glad
I got the beginnings<br>
> of it there and the teacher at Hadley was also very
good. I use Braille in<br>
> my everyday life but I am not that fluent because I
have not made myself sit<br>
> and read as I should. Need to get myself back on
track there. I use<br>
> Braille in business meetings, identifying things in
my home and I also use<br>
> it often when playing cards. My family loves to play
canasta and I missed<br>
> playing it. Now I can play it again! (smile) My
sister (who is sighted)<br>
> and I always play partners against our spouses and we
win the majority of<br>
> the time!<br>
><br>
> Take your time learning Braille. It can be daunting
as times but very<br>
> rewarding when it is completed.<br>
><br>
> Anyway, This list is a good source for information
and sharing. I do have a<br>
> question...you state that you have been Deaf-Blind
all your life. When did<br>
> you find out about your RP?<br>
><br>
> Have a Thrilling Thursday!!<br>
><br>
> (smile)<br>
> Darlene<br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
><br>
> _______________________________________________<br>
> nfb-db mailing list<br>
> <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">nfb-db@nfbnet.org</a><br>
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<br>
-- <br>
*~Shadow Wolf~*<br>
<br>
<br>
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<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
*~Shadow Wolf~*</pre>
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