Paws for Cake...and raise money for Hearing Dogs too!
My hearing loss journey...
Growing up, I found it incredibly difficult to make friends and feel comfortable in varying environments. I was constantly bullied in school due to my poor speech and then not being able to hear what others were saying to me. Lots of children in school found it funny to talk to me from far away or behind me, laughing at me constantly for asking them to repeat themselves or come closer so I could lip read. I developed depression by the time I was in my late teens due to my hearing loss blocking me from having some form of independence and life, and this caused isolation and reclusiveness.
Now...
In 2023, many things changed. I got new hearing aids that greatly helped my hearing loss, and I wear them all the time, but the best change was being matched with my hearing dog; a chocolate Labrador named Gizmo.
Gizmo and I have been partners for two years and I’m so very grateful to Hearing Dogs matching us so perfectly. I have a newfound confidence in myself, and I feel safe and capable of anything.
I can go out by myself to run errands, see friends and family, go to work in a busy office, and go to my appointments knowing that Gizmo is with me every step of the way. He is such a lovely dog to have around, so loving, and always keen for another adventure! Being at home alone is no longer terrifying and my anxiety now is considerably lower than it has ever been. I no longer rely on ‘hearing humans’ to tell me when a sound is happening, because I have my furry friend already on the case!
All the things I couldn’t do before, like cooking at home, answering the door in a reasonable time frame, and noticing an alarm going off, are a thing of the past. Gizmo has made such a massive difference and given me the independence I’ve always wanted. He is a breath of fresh air in my life and my family has noticed a massive positive change in me.
Every penny I raise will help more hearing dog puppies to be trained, so that one day they can transform a deaf persons life, just as Gizmo has done for me.
Hearing dogs are highly trained to alert deaf people to important and life-saving sounds, such as the smoke alarm, alarm clocks and even intruder alarms and baby monitors. They also provide lots of love, companionship and emotional support, which is really important as many deaf people can feel lonely and isolated.
It costs £25,000 to fully train a hearing dog, so the challenge I am taking on is a great way to raise funds to train more dogs. Any donation, however large or small, will really help.
Thank you.
