2010 March | A Deaf Mom Shares Her World

Barefooting– Accomplished!

Monday, March 29– definitely a fun day that I’ll always remember. But before I explain, let me back up a bit here.

Last fall, the hubby sent me a link to the TODAY show featuring Judy Myers, a 66-year-old gal who took up barefooting on a dare at the age of 53. This was not long after my 44th birthday when I was feeling a little down and discouraged. As I watched the video, I started feeling that old excitement about barefooting, a feeling that I had long ago given up on. It had been ten years or so since the last time I barefooted. Heck, if a 53 year old gal could take up barefooting for the first time and compete at the age of 66, why couldn’t I get back on my feet in the water again?

I got in touch with Judy and before I knew it, the plans were falling into place. The hubby and I arranged a spring break vacation and I set up plans to join Judy at the World Barefoot Center run by Keith St. Onge and David Small in Winter Haven.

I was pretty excited when I arrived and right off the bat, I spotted Judy. What a great gal, I felt as if I had known her for years. Keith welcomed me with a big smile and then introduced me to the three other skiers, Rick Meskers and his son Brody and another kid, ten-year-old Devin. Rick is a show skier up in Wisconsin and nine-year-old Brody is a competitive skier who has won the Nationals three years in a row and going for his fourth this summer.

Brody and Devin went first– I was in awe of what these kids could do at their young age. Rick went next, and he worked on a backwards deep water start and after about his fourth start, he was nailing it. Judy practiced some tumble turns– take a look:

And then it was my turn. Gulp. Keith and I had gone over some pointers on the dock and I was reminding myself of those tips as I slipped into the water. I had never used a boom before and the grip felt thick. I wrapped my legs on the cable and looked at Keith and said, “Ready.”

And 25 years after becoming deaf from barefooting, there I was barefooting again. And it felt so good!

More on Judy Myers: Judy Myers Inspires Deaf Mom

Brody Meskers in the news: Meskers Joins World Barefoot Center Team

More on barefooting and why The Best Years of Life are Still Ahead

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We are the World– in American Sign Language

In early February, Jane Holtz and I dropped off our two Laurens at the Desales Family Center in Michigan so they could participate in a D-Pan weekend camp. While Jane and I stayed in our pajamas all weekend and read books, our girls were having fun with Sean Forbes and a group of fellow campers. They produced two videos, “We are the World” (below) and “Smile,” (coming soon) in a tribute to Michael Jackson and in recognition of the Haiti earthquake.

Enjoy!

Photos from the weekend:

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Need Viagra? Insurance Will Cover It–Not Hearing Aids

Dear Illinois Senators,

We’ve got a bill up for consideration, S. B. 2516, and I hope you’ll pass it. You see, there are five generations of folks in my family who wear hearing aids. Every time we need new hearing aids, we need a doctor’s prescription to order them. Every time we inquire about insurance coverage for our new pieces of ear technology, we’re told, “Sorry, insurance companies rarely cover hearing aids.”

It is time to change that.

From the research I’ve done, it appears that it would cost anywhere from a few cents to a few dollars to provide coverage for hearing aids in Illinois. There really shouldn’t be any opposition from insurance companies– after all, hearing aids have to be medically prescribed and they certainly aren’t cosmetic devices as they’re sometimes described.

You see, without hearing aids, I literally cannot enjoy any music, hear the doorbell or turn at the sound of my kid’s voices. I can’t hear a single thing without my hearing aids.

Senators, think about the Illinois residents who have been prescribed hearing aids but who are facing the uphill battle of no insurance coverage for these medical devices. You can change that for Illinois residents. You can make history in Illinois and say, “Yes, the time is now to provide insurance coverage for hearing aids for Illinois residents of all ages.”

I will thank you. My family will thank you. The deaf and hard of hearing residents and their families of Illinois will thank you.

Read on for more:

Insurance Companies Cover Viagra, But Not Hearing Aids

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Join the Z-Team at the Chicago Z-Fest!

It’s been a busy year for the Z-Team– we’ve launched a new Z videophone: the Z4! Come and join the Z-Team at the Chicago Z-Fest on Saturday, March 20th from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Hinsdale South Cafeteria at 7401 S Clarendon Hills Rd, Darien IL. Pizza and pop will be provided. You’ll have a chance to meet folks from the Z-Team and learn about the four different videophones that Z provides.