Me as a premature baby - this is a newspaper cutting for a hospital newsletter. I was born at 28 weeks, my mum was very ill with listeriosis and her body was rejecting everything including me. I was one of the first to use modern technology which was a new incubator. That is me inside the big box!! As you can see I was tiny. My dad always said I looked like a baby bird that had fallen out of a nest. My skin was transparent and my pupils hadn't even developed. My mum said the only way she could identify me were by my feet which apparently are a real family trait! I was in and out of hospital for a long time and I died quite a few times and decided that I wasn't leaving. I was a little fighter!
Me in the incubator
I was given all sorts of medication to try and keep me going, it could be that one of the meds that I had damaged my ears. The medication was a type of antibotic to fight the bacteria in my body - this was called Gentamicin (this could be the cause of my deafness). It was discovered that I have too much fluid in my ears and my hairs in my ears are flat which mean they are useless. As a baby I had seizures too so my little body went through the wars then!
I was finally allowed home - My parents' carried on as normal, both were training to be nurses when I was born. They both had an inkling that something was not right, so advice was sought. Doctors undertook numerous tests and nothing was diagnosed. The funny thing, is I had a hearing test where a person stands behind you and makes noises, as I was a social child I would always turn at the right time with a smile on my face so Deafness was not an issue (haha). Doctors said that I had a learning disability. My mum was insistent that this was not the case and decide that she was going to push for answers (good old mum). Finally I was diagnosed as Deaf at 2 years old. My dad took this really badly, he could not believe it. He did his own 'test' where he got two metal trays and stood behind me and banged them constantly to see if I would turn round. I didn't.
I was finally allowed home - My parents' carried on as normal, both were training to be nurses when I was born. They both had an inkling that something was not right, so advice was sought. Doctors undertook numerous tests and nothing was diagnosed. The funny thing, is I had a hearing test where a person stands behind you and makes noises, as I was a social child I would always turn at the right time with a smile on my face so Deafness was not an issue (haha). Doctors said that I had a learning disability. My mum was insistent that this was not the case and decide that she was going to push for answers (good old mum). Finally I was diagnosed as Deaf at 2 years old. My dad took this really badly, he could not believe it. He did his own 'test' where he got two metal trays and stood behind me and banged them constantly to see if I would turn round. I didn't.
The picture is of me and my daddy (when he had hair!)
One of the other conditions that they discovered I have is called Endolymphatic hydrops with is also known as menieres disease- The symptoms of endolymphatic hydrops include tinnitus, dizziness, fluctuating hearing loss, imbalance and a feeling of fullness/pressure in the ear.
This was going to be the start of a long, but interesting journey for myself and my parents!
Any questions please feel free to ask me and I will try and answer them! :)
Take care for now, speak soon. Faye x
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