Another week is going by fast people! Now, it’s time for me to do Cee’s Share your world. Cee from Cee’s photography does this every week. She asks 4 questions and we answer them best we can. Why not go see what it’s all about and join in? It’s a wonderful way of getting to know your fellow bloggers or maybe some new bloggers.
What is your favorite type of dog? (Can be anything from a specific breed, a stuffed animal, drawing, cartoon or character in a movie or TV show)
I love all dogs. I’ve owned all sorts of dogs, but I have to admit my favorite breed is the German Shepherd. They are smart, loyal, playful and easy to train. I used to raise them years ago. Another lifetime ago. I have to say though that Sam, who is a bishon/Shih Tzu mix is super smart too. He is my buddy, my confidante, my little clown. He loves me unconditionally.
Name one thing not many people know about you.
That I lip read. I’m very good at it too. I lost my hearing when I was 16. It was a slow, gradual loss that wasn’t detected till then. During that time I became expert at reading lips, just so I could figure out what everyone was saying. I was told in the beginning that my hearing loss could not be corrected. That hearing aids were not a solution as it wasn’t nerve damage that did it. At the time they weren’t sure what caused it. I was told by the time I was 20 I would be completely deaf. It was devastating. In the meantime, I graduated high school with one of the highest grades in my class. I got a job. Life went on. At my job I finally was able to receive insurance and so I decided to have my hearing tested once more by the leading Otolaryngologist (ear doctor) in the state of Wisconsin. I was lucky in that he was practicing not too far from where I lived in another city. He did a battery of tests and confirmed that one, yes, I was almost completely deaf in both ears. But…..he could fix them! With an operation, he could replace the middle bone in my ear and fix it, hopefully. It was still a fairly new procedure where I came from and I was given a 50-50 chance that it would work. If the operation failed, they never could fix it and I would be deaf permanently. Needless to say it worked! I remember the first words I told the doctor when he was talking to me after the surgery and wanting to know if I could hear him. I drowsily told him to stop yelling at me. He wasn’t of course, but it seemed that way LOL.
Have you ever gone scuba diving? If you haven’t, would you want to?
No to both questions. I have never had an interest in scuba diving. I am slightly claustrophobic. I do not want to be under water that way.
What was the most important event in your life last week? (Anything goes it can be a good night’s sleep, finished a reading book, winning the lottery, or getting married)
The most important thing last week is that it finally stopped raining. Yeah, not much, but I’ll take what I can lately. Oh, and speaking of sleep, I finally did have one night of half decent sleep. For me that is an unusual occurrence. I wish I had won the lottery, but alas, that keeps eluding me.
The Last Chapter 
Matthew can lipread too. His hearing loss isn’t as profound as yours was but he still learned from being in situations where there’s a lot of background noise and all.
I like dogs that belong to my friends but don’t want one for my self. 🙂
LikeLike
You learn to adapt or be lost. So good for Matthew for adapting! Lip reading can be rather fun lol. One day I will have to tell you some stories….. 🙂
Dogs are not for everyone. I just love all animals.
LikeLike
You are always a font of information Jackie. Great post keep up the good work and you keep buying those lottery tickets, at least with a ticket you can dream.
LikeLike
Thank you Michael. So true too about dreams and tickets. I find I seem to be doing a lot of dreaming lately. Must be something in the wind.
LikeLike
Could be Jackie as there is a lot of wind here this morning.
LikeLike
Your story about the hearing loss is amazing, Jackie. What an incredible and brave life you’ve lived. Losing one of the senses is very traumatic, but getting it back again is a miracle! Don’t you just love modern medicine! 😀
I wasn’t going to say anything about the first part of your post, but changed my mind. It’s weird because it hit me like a ton of bricks. My 11 year old German Shepherd passed away on Saturday night. I’ve been a morbid mess ever since and thought I’d read a few blog posts to get my mind off it. I’ve read two this morning and both involved dogs (I’m actually smiling and shaking my head as I write this because it sounds so bizarre!) – he certainly isn’t allowing me to forget him in a hurry! 😉
LikeLike
Awww Dianne. Big big hugs lady!! Losing a pet is so hard I know. But, they are to be remembered with love. Your pet is just letting you know they are happy and in a good place.
The hearing loss was a devasting blow to me. I had pretty much given up hope and figured I would have to learn sign next and was actually studing it. Then I read about this Dr and made an appointment. It was amazing and I remember crying when I heard birds sing again and the breeze in the trees.
LikeLike
That’s a great story about the lip reading and your near-deaf experience! 🙂
I’m always a bit afraid to try scuba diving too, not from a claustrophobic point of view but I’m a bit scared of deep water, plus I’ve seen those movies, nasty people come and cut your oxygen tube, or sharks come and bite your oxygen tank, and you, I’ve seen the movies.
LikeLike
So Vanessa you just scared yourself right out of scuba diving huh? LOL But I do understand the fears.
LikeLike
Okay so I won’t whisper around you because you could still read my lips. I bet the doctors voice sounded like yelling. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLike
It was the loudest thing I had heard in many years. I remember it because we were still in the operating room, and when I told him to stop yelling at me everyone laughed. I try not to evesdrop, but sometimes it’s fun lol
LikeLike
Wow, that was an amazing story about your deafness. Thanks for sharing that!
LikeLike
Thank you for reading. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing the story of your hearing loss. I’m glad you were able to see an expert.
As for German Shephards, they are great dogs. We had one for a decade, and enjoyed her loyalty along with her love of cuddling. Sometimes, she seemed to think she was an 80 pound lap dog.
LikeLike
Shephards tend to think they are lap dogs, unless they are being protective. lol
thanks for stopping in.
LikeLike
What was the reason for your hearing loss? Sounds like something to do with the inner bones, but how/why?
I had cholesteotoma as a child and because of that I am missing parts of my middle ear bones as well as having a hole in my right ear drum.. Kind of funny when an unexpecting doctor gets a shocked expression ;-).Never tried hearing aides so don’t know if they’d work. Wasn’t something brought up as a child and certainly can’t afford now (nor have insurance for).
LikeLike
My hearing loss came about because the 3 inner bones inside the ear fused together. In both ears. It has a big long name that I can’t remember now, been too many years. It’s my understanding that hearing aids only work if the hearing lose is nerve related. Ours isn’t, so hearing aids wouldn’t do any good.
I used to get a kick out of doing those free hearing tests in the mall. The looks on the sales peoples face was priceless. Then the stupid question was always asked, “Did you know you are nearly deaf?”
Um, duh. 😉 We have to be amused, or despondent, I prefer amused.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love Jumping the Gun on the doc… Telling them there’s a hole there b4 they can say anything. More than once I’ve had them wonder how I knew they were going to mention… LOL – because every doctor does.
In my case the hole was deliberately placed by my ENT… In later years we tried to cover, but it didn’t take.
Thank you for sharing your story by the way.
LikeLike
You’re welcome, thank you for sharing also.
LikeLike