I was welcomed into your community as the hearing parent of a deaf child who wears a cochlear implant, and I have learned so much from your posts and comments. I am proud to give you a greater glimpse of our community, so that you realize that Jordan's story is only one of many, many others.
Six days, this took six days to create by means of internet, a hundred emails a day, across the globe... Congratulations to Naomi, Val and Lydia...I was just a cheerleader.
Introducing Wellsphere.com, which you may have noticed on my sidebar. I received a letter from Geoffrey Rutledge, MD, PhD, the Chief Medical Information Officer on the precise morning I left to go to the NHS 2008 in Cernobbio and have been on their bloggers' list ever since:
One of the keys to Wellsphere’s success is the breadth of knowledge across its network of experts and experienced health writers, and within its caring community. Wellsphere’s network of writers and bloggers includes almost 1,500 of the leading medical minds from Stanford, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Yale and other top Medical Schools, as well as patients facing difficult diseases who bravely share their stories of survival. Wellsphere is extremely selective in admitting writers into its network, ensuring that they are highly credible, eloquent, and caring. By creating such an extensive writer network, Wellsphere is able to connect users with a variety of personal and medical perspectives on any health issue.
In addition to expert and patient articles, WellPages present a holistic view, including relevant news, articles, videos and pictures from reliable sources ranging from the FDA and Harvard Medical School to leading health and fitness magazines. Instead of having to spend hours visiting many different websites to get a complete answer to their health concerns, users can instantly get a complete picture within seconds.
*Harvard, Stanford...and little old me-lol*
Let me just say that they are using not only one of the most intelligent marketing strategies I have ever seen by continuously motivating their bloggers with things all bloggers love-badges, pins, awards, but they have truly created a powerhouse of an informative site on gazillions of topics in health care, including a Hearing Loss community. Rachel, Drew's Dad, Tiffani-Riley's Mom and Abbie are a few of the other bloggers picked up by their site.
So...when I received this little email, I was very excited:
We are excited to recognize you in our new YES, WE CARE! Campaign that honors everyday heroes, like you, who put themselves on the front lines in the quest for a healthier, happier world by spending their time and putting their hearts and souls into helping others in need. We’re particularly excited to have this chance to honor you, for dedicating your time and writing to help people improve their health and well-being. We've nominated YOU as one of our Everyday Heroes!
They requested that I send them a video...(thanks to Val, I was able to do this-my very own first attempt at closed-captioning-Rachel will be proud)
Note: When I asked my husband what it felt like to sleep with a hero...he just rolled his eyes. ROTFL.
Hmm. Fell asleep with Sofia and had sweet dreams. Woke up to a nightmare of an email from an old friend. Raise your hand if you were molested as a child. Lovely topic of conversation, isn't it? I almost think that being molested as a little girl is a birthright, it happens so often. Sex, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex...start saying the word over and over again if it scares you, prepare yourself to discuss private parts and that each and every one of us has our own private parts that only WE can touch, NO ONE else.
We have deaf children. Our kids grasp certain concepts much slower than hearing kids and that makes them easy prey. So, start with private parts, easy words, simple explanations, signs. Prepare them to go out into the world, conscious that their bodies are precious, and that they are their own PROPERTY.
Because shit happens... and I don't want it to happen to our kids.
