'Being a wife and a mother is better than being Miss America!!'

[Dan Murphy]

What a wonderful statement!! Reading this article about former Miss America, Heather Whitestone, and her cochlear implant to help correct a hearing loss she has had since very early in her life in yesterday's USA Today, gave me a nice feeling inside. Heather was the first deaf Miss America, back in '94.

I recall my lunch this past May, at Diamond Horseshoe, and some time spent with DIS'er, Talking Hands (Lisa), and friends of hers, all of whom have various degrees of hearing loss. Watching the interaction and communication abilities of the group was wonderful to watch, and, why I don't know, gave me that lump in the throat I seem to get often (don't know why either). I guess maybe it is just witnessing human beings overcoming obstacles in life, and succeeding, that is so neat. The desire to communicate is such a strong human emotion.

This article, about Heather Whitestone, the first deaf Miss America, crowned in 1994, and her cochlear implant was most interesting, and heart warming. Her thought that she 'believes her implant will provide her a fuller experience of being a wife and a mother, which ''is better than being Miss America'' really struck a chord with me. Give it a look, nice article, fairly short, quick read.


<center>USA Today article on Heather Whitestone (http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20020808/4343681s.htm)




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[olena]

Excellent article, Dan! Thank you....:D

[helenabear]

That was a great article... thanks Dan :)

[Talking Hands]

Good article. While I am not a candicate for CI myself I think they are helpful as long as they are not thought of as giving real hearing. The person is still deaf. But it is a wonderful assistive listening device just as hearing aids are.

[Kitty 34]

Great article!!:D

[tnkrbell]

Great article!!:D

[CathyCanada]

Thanks for bringing it to my attention, Dan. Seeing Heather be crowned Miss America was one of the most emotional nights of my life. It really made me realize that Patrick can do whatever he puts his mind to. :)

We thought seriously about the implant and finally his Audiologist said, wait until he is 11 or 12 and see what HE wants to do. We did, explained the procedure, the pros and cons, and he looked at us and said, no, I am happy the way I am, being deaf is not so bad. I cry just remembering. :)

Thanks, Dan.
CC

[EROS]

Thanks, CC, for sharing that with us:) :) :) :) :) .......

[catsrule]

:D

[vickyBaby]

Dan and CC, you got me all misty-eyed.

[cotye]

:)