Louise’s Legacy

It is with great sadness and lingering shock that I announce the most tragic of news. My greataunt, godmother, namesake, mentor, and inspiration has passed away unexpectedly at the age of 71. Louise was a tough yet selfless woman who taught me, in both instruction and example, to “never, never, NEVER give up!” She was tirelessly devoted to her family, friends, church, community, and people with disabilities.

Louise lost her hearing two months shy of her twentieth birthday, from a single shot of the “wonder drug” antibiotic Streptomycin. For the rest of her life, she devoted considerable energy to advocacy for the D/deaf, hard-of-hearing, and others with disabilities. She served for many years on the Governor’s Commission for People with Disabilities and was honored as the State Volunteer of the Year. One of her many accomplishments was helping to found and implement our state’s Relay Service, a telephone service for the D/deaf and hard-of-hearing—one of the first in the country. Louise was the State Coordinator for the organization Self-Help for Hard-of-Hearing People/Hearing Loss Association of America from 1991 to 2007. In 2004, she became the first adult in our state to have bilateral cochlear implants, and had recently rediscovered her love of the symphony. She was frequently called upon to speak to students and faculty at local colleges and universities, delivering her last talk just two days before her death.

Louise’s husband of 53 years, Bill, showed me through example how to be a loving, devoted Hearing Spouse. Though the short fuse on my temper makes me unable to ever duplicate his unwavering patience, the love and devotion between them is something I will always strive to emulate.

To say that I am devastated is, of course, a gross understatement. I had only just begun the interviews with Louise for my book, and since I had just launched this blog a few days ago (and Louise’s internet had been out), I had not been able to tell her about it yet. She was ecstatic to be working with me on this project, and saw Brandt and me as the leaders of the next generation’s advocacy for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing. At her visitation and funeral, I talked to a number of her Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing friends and colleagues (I was so exhausted and stunned, my signing skills were practically non-existent; however, I was able to pull off a little conversation). They told me that it now falls on my shoulders to carry on Louise’s legacy. No small feat, a challenge that I will surely never fulfill, at least not completely, as who could pick up the torch of a legend, Superwoman, the ultimate Steel Magnolia?

But I have her name, and I have her passion. And I think that’s a pretty good start.