I havent been around so much has been going on. Today I was woken up and heard some terrible news. My Aunt passed away this morning. Lately, between my health issues and now this I just dont get why life has to be so unfair you know. Its so scary because in seconds your life can change forever. Aunt Pat We Love You and miss you terribly.
Anyways- Recently, I was in the hospital for more testing for 4 days. It was very difficult to communicate with the nurses. I am sure the dr saw my frustration because I was on camera 24/7. I specifically told every nurse I AM DEAF. I cant hear even with my hearing aid. I put up a sign that saids I AM DEAF I lip read and sign etc. It was on the DOOR mom put it up for me so It was there and never taken off. Everytime someone came in there was a problem. I couldn't communicate at all. It was frustrating for me and it gets to the point were I get aggravated because its not the 1st time at this same hospital. Yes its a different department but still COMON! Get it right already. You know the dry erase board I even put another sign there. Still nothing. I seriouslly think they are in there own worlds... its sad. I dont know what else to do about it I spoke up I said I was deaf. They still talk to me through curtains. I even bought my own dry erase board with me which I didn't even use. The signs I printed out I got free from the computer did NOTHING for me ZERO. So now this time Im going to take the time to make my own its going to be on RED PAPER and big letters. First of all if you get admitted to hospital you get a book and " your rights" the very first page is states information if you are deaf or hard of hearing. For now on I am just going to request interpreters. What really pissed me off was the very last day it was during the day no one was with me yet and the nurse comes in and saids " YOUR DEAF?" I go yes I am " but you talk so well". I go I know I had alot of speech my entire life and I just recently lost all my hearing. I didn't know you were deaf how long ago did you put up this sign no one told me you were deaf? I said its been there since the moment I was admitted and its on the DOOR NEAR THE DOOR KNOB to walk in. " Oh I didn't see it". Seriously I been learning to be my own ADVOCATE and it still doesn't work. I also forgot that I was on the monitor so it was 24/7 video. Im sure my dr saw How frustrating it was for me. He knew I was deaf he communicated with me fine. So I moved on its over with hopefully I dont have to go back to the hospital for a very long time.
On the other hand, I found out Marlee Matlin my Idol who happens to be a deaf actress is going to be on Extreme Makeover on Sunday tune in if you live in NY its on ABC. Check out the video here
Hope you all have a good night!
6 comments:
I'm sorry you're going through such a rough time! Yes, nurses sometimes go into 'automatic' mode and just don't notice things. You are right, the next time this happens or happens to anyone else, you need another advocate, namely an interpreter. It is your right. Get better soon...
Danielle, please accept my sincere sympathy on the passing of your aunt.
Also, sorry about the difficulties concerning your hospital stay. Are the tests you're having in connection with getting a cochlear implant?
Wishing you all the best.
: )
My sympathies on the passing of your Aunt.
Your hospital stay sounds awful! I wonder if the hospital has an ombudsman (patient rights advocate) that you can contact to get an interpreter (if you ever need to be hospitalized again, that is). Our little guy has a moderately severe loss and I hate when he has to go in for surgery. They take his "ears" and then put on masks- it is just plain awful.
Ooh- I need to tune in to Extreme Makeover tonight!
That's so frustrating! Sometimes you really have to beat people over the head with things.
Hope your feeling better. Today is your feature day over at my blog: http://www.bigteethandclouds.com/2010/10/hearing-loss-profile-danielle.html
Take care!
I'm so sorry to hear about your aunt, and your continued illness.
I just came across from reading your post on Joey's blog - I have a visual impairment, and while that's obviously a different set of issues, I think there's a lot of similarity (I have a deaf friend locally and we compare notes all the time!). People just not noticing and not thinking is worryingly common... people making random assumptions about what you can and can't do is equally frustrating. I wish people would just ask.
Danielle, I'm so sorry to hear about your aunt. My sympathies to you and your family.
What a horrible experience you had to endure. People need to slow down in this world. It's upsetting that these are the people caring for you and none of them realized you were deaf until your last day there?!? My husband was at the airport and there was a deaf guy trying to communicate with the lady at the ticket counter. He said you could completely tell the guy was upset and that the ticket lady kept getting frustrated with him. Good thing I wasn't there, because I would've used some choice words with the lady. That was very upsetting for me and I wasn't even the one witnessing it. Again, people need to slow down and have patience and understanding. Grrrrrr.
Sending you hugs that everything is ok with your health! and thanks so much for the link!
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