When I first became deaf

   

Deaf Riders Unite

          With no recollection of how I got here, three days later I awake suddenly deaf with hospital staff surrounding me.  One of the Doctors walks over to my bed and starts moving his mouth as if he were talking to me. My head is pounding with sound but this sound is not a familiar nor a describable sound. My ears feel like they have enormous plugs in them. And my head is spinning as if I'm continuously on a ride of some sort. Then the Doctors writes me a message and ask, "How do you feel today Ms. Warren." Puzzled at why he wrote to me instead of spoke to me, I then speak to him and say, "I feel dizzy. What is happening?" (as I panic) I could not hear a word I just spoke. And I panic some more.

     That was four years ago when I slowly accepted my deafness. You see, I came down with Meningitis and till this very day, I have no idea how I became so sick. It took me two years to adjust to my new life of having a disability.

     My life before my sudden hearing loss was that of the usual 9am-5pm worker bee. Only my hours were 6am-3pm Monday-Friday and often on Saturdays. I worked as an Electrician Apprentice. I'm sure your asking how does a woman fair in the construction industry. My answer is we don't. That industry is still very much a man's world and they would like to keep it that way. The caliber of men in the construction industry are those that were alcoholics, drug users, illegal immigrants, and bar goers. Sure, there were some upstanding men I worked around and even they claimed that a woman belongs in the house making babies and what not. It wasn't easy for me working everyday as an Electrician but I had bills to pay. I was gawked and heckled a lot unless I was holding a saw-zaw or carrying ten foot pieces of pipe then I became Rosie The Riviter. Although being an Electrician had it draw-backs, I truly enjoyed my trade and I was good at it. However, I could see the "Glass Ceiling" and I knew in the back of my mind that I had to find another career and soon. I worked as an Electrician for the last fifteen years of my life. Although I have other skills such as typing, software knowledge, and data entry skills, I knew my skills weren't enough to get me back into the "White Collar" industry. My high school diploma wasn't enough and I needed to obtain my Associated Degree. I wasn't eligible to return to college because I was in default on college loans already. So I truly did not know what to do. It seemed my life was at a dead end when suddenly I became ill and lost my hearing.

     In looking back it's almost a blessing in disguise. You see, because of my disability my old defaulted student loans were forgiven. In other words, they were dismissed and I could now go to college on a Pell Grant. And so I did. I am currently seeking an Associates Degree in Computer Programming.

     Stay tuned as I have much more to write about. GOD is GOOD!