SWC World list
Copyright 2001
Jan wrote to the SWC World list:
Hi! I met another member of our list awhile ago, and she told me how the SWC literally changed her life. And I got to wondering how it's changed everyone else's life.
This month will be my two-year anniversary with the SWC. The time has just flown by!
Two immediate things occur to me. First, when I first joined I learned SO much I didn't know before about hearing loss, Assisted Listening Devices, Cochlear Implants, SHHH (never heard of it before joining SWC), etc., etc.
And then, as a wonderful bonus, there were the friendships made. It has just been an incredible experience all the way around!
I never thought that when I joined I would ever actually MEET people on the list!
So, what surprised and delighted you about the list? Anything about it change your life?
Let's hear from everyone, especially the lurkers! LOL Why do you continue to lurk? What do you get out of the list, and why do you not post more often? (Of course, you do NOT have to participate in this--I just would love to hear everyone's thoughts!) And you have my permission to immediately go back to lurker mode after this little survey is over if you want to! LOL
Sheila in Albuquerque wrote:
I feel connected to many of the folks here on World and know them better than most of my neighbors. It was great to meet the SWC folks I met when they were in Santa Fe for the ALDAcon (Linnie, Robin, Malisa, Martha, Bobee, Ling, Don, Mark, Edna, Christine)-hope I haven't forgotten anyone.
I'm looking forward to meeting many more at the Con this July in Chicago.
Why do I not post more often? Gee, there just aren't enough hours in a day. Many days, I'm lucky to get the posts read. Though I'd like to respond to more, I only have time to respond to those I just can't pass up.
Sharon wrote:
Hi, I'm not a lurker, I'm a speak my minder and I hope that I have not offended anyone at anytime. If that is ever the case please let me know as it would never be done intentionally.
I have not had the good fortune of meeting any of you in person and to add insult to the injury I joined this wonderful group just after the San Diego con. Living less than a 2 hour drive from San Diego I certainly would have made the convention.
How has this group changed my life? It has made me feel less alone and to know that many of us share some of the same symptoms and fears, that we are able to vent and offer a shoulder or receive a shoulder. Thank you SWCer's and Happy Valentines Day.
Susann wrote:
Just before I joined the SWC, I had very low self esteem. I had no friends and my family never allowed me to let others know that I had a hearing problem. I grew up in a hearing world. I was called dumb and stupid and retarded all my life, so I grew up believing I was just that. I didn't know how to spell, I didn't know the meaning of a lot of things unless I asked. I hardly even got to go to school.
Two and a half years ago I joined the SWC. For awhile I was calling myself names not realizing it was a habit for me to say it but as I was making new friends in the SWC, a few people started jumping on me for saying things like that about myself. My friends were teaching me self esteem and love. and caring about others, but also they taught me to stand up for myself in this world. Last summer for the first time in my life I left my family to go to the SWC convention. I met my friends who taught me all these things. I have learned and grown up more in the last couple years than I have in the last 40 years of my life. I never want to go back the way I used to be before I joined this club. I just wish I knew of this club years ago. Today I'm happy I have many friends. I've learned it's ok to be deaf, and the SWC is a second family to me. I will go to my friends here with my problems before I go to my family. I thank my SWC family for helping me want to live a life I never had before and I know I'm not dumb, stupid, retarded or anything like that. I'm proud to be a member of the SWC and I love all my friends here.
Martha wrote:
I have had a major change in my life since I joined SWC. I joined in June, 1999 so a few months shy of 2 years ago. I was so lonely at the time. I bought a computer as I was just alone too much. I met so many friends on Friends and they became "family" to me (literally with calling each other sisters and Mom and Grandma).
It was good to have a family. Before the end of 1999, I found myself on various committees getting ready for the convention in San Diego. I had never helped put together a convention before and found myself as Registration Chair. I learned a LOT that way!!!
Before the end of the year I was asked to be on the SWC Hospitality Committee. I was shocked to say the least! Having very low self esteem, it has been a challenge to me. But it helped me to see, through working with the convention last year and HC there is something that is good in me.
I met so many of you at the SWC con and also at ALDA. It was a real experience to go to a convention with other HOH or Late Deafened adults.
This year I look forward to seeing others again and meeting new people. It is so nice to be able to meet the people we correspond with. I feel more secure about myself and a lot less lonely now. I am now involved with SWC, SHHH, ALDA. Two years ago, I was involved with only SHHH as the VP looking for web pages to share with my group. Now I am getting ready to share my friends from SWC to SHHH in May! I am looking forward to meeting everyone that comes to Columbus.
The biggest change in me is from our CI chat group! A year ago, I was scared to death of the CI and would not have it. I had never heard good things about a CI until I came here to SWC. Not only did I learn a lot, I became brave enough to have it done last May. And a special friend from the SWC Friends list come to be with me for the surgery.
I joined the SWC almost 2 1/2 yrs ago. In fact I was the first member on the World list. In this short period of time, I've learned so much about coping and about asking for what I need in order to hear. I had never met or even talked to another HOH person before joining the SWC. I learned I'm not alone. I learned about CI's on this list and now have one of my own.
I have 4 kids, one of whom gave a speech at her graduation before I joined swc. I wasn't able to follow her because I didn't know about asking for help. (I read her speech beforehand, but she also adlibbed during it and that I missed.) Now you can bet, that this spring, even though I hear much better with my CI, I will ask for accommodations so I can hear my son speak at his graduation.
I'm a much more outgoing person. Before, I would rarely speak up, now at times you can't shut me up. LOL I don't post as much as I used to, but that's because I just do not have the time. I tend to post sporadically, but I read everything on this list.
Asa in Sweden wrote:
I have been a member close to 2 years now.. I had never spoken to someone with a hearing loss before I joined. I was rather new to deafness and SWC changed my world. I have a CI now.. and things are a lot better hearing-wise but SWC is not all about hearing loss.. it is about so much more. Like getting flowers from you on World list last spring as I came home from the hospital. I still have the card on the refrigerator door, so I am reminded of this everyday..I was one lucky woman that day!!
Amy in Comfort, TX, wrote:
I've been on the list for almost a year. I found out about SWC at a coping skills retreat for late deafened adults. A year ago I felt very much alone, isolated and trying to navigate a way in a strange new world without a map. I am a big believer that knowledge is power and here I have found the knowledge to make my way and in effect feel very empowered. I have the tools to control my life, I am not helpless.
Would I have been ok without SWC? Probably, I tend to adjust & adapt to most situations, but SWC has paved the way and made the bumps more bearable. I have been most delighted in meeting my SWC buddies in person. There's not much that bugs me about the list, if there is something annoying or uninteresting I just hit the delete key. I think that it's our diversity as a group that makes us so interesting. I would never want to do anything to stifle that. I feel very much at home here, like I belong.
Rachel in Florida wrote:
I am so happy to have found the SWC. What a wonderful and honest group of people. Never have I had so much support and information given to me. I love it. I love hearing about everything going on and learning about hearing loss and options and hearing dogs.
I was surprised at how many of you have met and how many friendships have been made. This is not just a group that e-mails; this is a group of friends and I love that.
How has it changed my life? A little over a year ago of discovering and trying to ignore my hearing loss, and crying about it and being ashamed of it and being afraid of it, I have, as Malisa put it, "dried my eyes" :-) I have learned so much and I also know that while no one can tell me exactly what to do or what will happen to me if I choose path a or path b, I am not alone and I have the support of everyone no matter what. That is such a blessing. Thanks. I am glad I found you and hope to eventually meet some of you.
Rhoda, at that time near Orlando, FL, wrote:
YES YES YES
Trying to think of something different to add, I think about being unselfconscious about hearing loss, being assertive about getting my needs met, educating others everywhere I am. Going public has been a big step for me. Meeting other HOH and deaf people, and accepting deafness and knowing what to do about it, is also important.And another biggie, Attitude. I've never come across a group with such determined optimism. We can vent here where we all understand, but whining and self-pity are not welcome as long-term attitudes. Life is tough, folks, and facing it with all the courage and support we can muster is just terrific.
Rosmary in Arizona wrote:
Alas, I'm one of the 'lurkers'! ....For nearly a year I've enjoyed SWC and as with all who belong, it has certainly changed my life. Coping with hearing loss without support from people who understand and care can be devestating. ....I thoroughly enjoy reading all the posts about families, travel, jobs, discussions of all kinds. I even am very interested in your comments and advice on nursing homes, for I am possibly much closer than any of you to that, heaven forbid. I don't spend any time worring about that just now. I plan to take issue with a large well-known organization that has not been cooperating with hearing disabled people. They claim to accommodate disabled, but I have found it's only the wheel-chair kind, or blind, or??
Again, it is an elder organization and doesn't affect most of you yet, but for the future generations I need to organize my thinking and I may ask for your help in confronting them. At the moment I'm recuperating from quadruple by-pass heart surgery, which surprised me as much as anyone. I've been extremely healthy, they said it's in the genes, which I know is true. But I hope to get back up to speed soon and just know I'm reading and watching, and although I haven't much of interest like the rest of you, I'll jump in occasionally if there's any news from Arizona.
Joanne wrote:
I am one of the lurkers here on a Saturday morning with a few minutes. I continue to lurk because it seems like I never have enough time. I work full-time and have a three year old and a 14 year old. Not much time left after that. But I do have to say I do read every post and I have learned so much from each and every one. Thanks all for being there. (Going back into luker mode now.)
Melissa in Chicago wrote:
SWC changed my life right from the start! Shortly after I joined, I wanted to get a second hearing aid - I had one 20-year-old BTE from a hearing aid bank, I had been referred to Voc. Rehab. I didn't know anything about hearing aids, or VR. I got SO much support and advice in the first few weeks - and months, as I tried out, rejected, and fought to get the aids I wanted. And all I had to do was ask!
I wrote this recently, for a formal explanation about what's so great here:
"The communications strategies and tips, the information about equipment, the simple, profound emotional support and the laughter to be found in this wonderful club are an invaluable resource"
...but that's not all of it.
I think of my deaf grandmother, and the isolation she endured for most of her adult life. I feel so fortunate to be living in this time, when what we have here is possible. Some would argue that sitting here typing is another form of isolation, but that's not true. We meet here, and respond to the person's words - free from any peconcieved notions that meeting face to face can bring. And when we do meet in person, it is magical - we know each other already! Whether or not we do meet out there in the world, we give each other the courage TO go out and meet life head on.
Sandi in NJ wrote:
I want to thank you so much for all the help you have given me within this short year that I have been a member of this wonderful club!!
I was able to write to you when I needed help to select different medicines to allow the doctors and nurses to use in the hospitals that I unfortunately have had to frequent!! I was put in touch with a fantastic member, called Neil Bauman. He was able to tell me which not to use, if there was a choice!! Most of the time there is a choice. He is one lovely person!! Thank you again Neil.
I was able to "talk" to members who were depressed and lonely, and make them feel better. It also made me feel better about myself.
I personally have lived my whole life as a hearing person, even though I am really HOH or as I refer to myself as Hearing Impaired. Many times I had to hide my hearing loss, by acting the part of a hearing person!! I was newly divorced with 2 youngsters, alone in a big one family home. I only had hearing people to communicate with, as I had only one friend that was HOH.
As the years went by, I met a few more. My friend started a SHHH group, in Montclair, NJ, near my home. I was able to meet a few more HOH people there, but they were all busy with their own lives.
This Say What Club was really the first social club that I ever belonged to for Deaf and Hearing Impaired people!! Here, we can say what we feel, and try not to step on anyone else's toes!! We can discuss everything that we want to more or less.
I lost my Late Dad, as he was the last of the elders in my immediate family. I have only a sister who still finds fault with my hearing. She does not like to talk to me over the phone; I miss a couple of her words sometimes. She does not realize how fortunate I am that I can still use the phone. How many of us would love to be able to do this without relay. Now I am starting to become closer to my sister. I try to ignore her faults. I can always just open up to all of my friends and I feel much better about myself!!
I moved away from where I had lived most of my life, 6 years ago, into a new area for me. I knew no one here. I was very lonely for friends. My phone bills were astronomical for quite a few years!! Now I am able to just sit down and go over the day's postings and answer the ones I feel that pertain to me, or that I might want some more information about, or that I see someone needs a little cheering up. I like that very much!!
I hope that you all try to come to meet as many of us that will be able to go to the convention this year in Chicago!! The last convention was one the best times that I had in my entire life!! I want to thank all of my very close friends here, that I do not want to mention here personally, for I can not forget even one last one, and I surely would do this!! Thank you for being my good friends!!
BobEEEE I want to thank you once more for allowing me to be part of this fantastic group of ANGELS!!! I love each and every one of you!!
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