a friend's dog is in critical condition, please help!

Recently over the weekend, I received a videophone call from Katherine from Philadelphia. I could see some tears and learned that her 2 dogs may have been poisoned by something they ate, drank or a blockage inside. One of her dogs, Marley, had the worst reaction and is now in the hospital in serious condition. I know how it feels to see a close pet going through pain and the risk of losing that pet. Katherine sent out an email for help and support:

Marley, My Deaf Dog, Is In Critical Condition

As you all know, this is a frightening time where I feel helpless about Marley's critical condition. I feel powerless about trying to save her. She may die and the people at ER are going to do everything to try save her and surgery might be possible. It is a horrible time for me and pray god will spare Marley her life for all the animals I have helped save.

Raychelle has made a post on the blog on Marley's behalf. The post went to deafread extra instead, so please go to www.deafread.com/extra, click on that and vote Marley's post to move it to the front. If you can contribute some $$, be is 5, 10, 20, 100 or whatever, it'll be greatly appreciated and share with others who you feel can help. Here is info about Marley's fundraising:

http://deafanimalrow.blogspot.com/2007/10/fundraising-for-marley.html

Katherine

I ask you to please help Katherine by donating a few dollars or more so she could be able to pay for the hospital bills. Many thanks!!

Deaf258 & Gnarlydorkette: What a Day!

Deaf258 and Gnarlydorkette review a day at the Gallaudet's Homecoming, meeting fellow bloggers and vloggers. It was a great, yet exhausting day. We had a great time meeting old, new and familiar faces!

vlog 0008: thank God for cochlear implants!

I am sharing my disgust with religious fanatics who claim that it was God who made cochlear implants possible. By staking their claim, they are at conflict with their own religions according to their beliefs and scriptures.

UPDATE: I just found Deaf Flower's vlog I was referring to earlier. Check out her vlog!

my vlog signature.

I was somewhat displeased, yet flattered, to learn that various vloggers have ripped off my vlog signature, a sip from my drink right before I start talking about the topic. Anyone who has seen me on the videophone/webcam knows I tend to drink at the beginning or during the conversation. So, it is naturally my vlog signature. Edit: I am the one with tea.

Please keep it mind, that one is mine!

UPDATE #1: Gnarlydorkette has made a vlog about this issue.



UPDATE #2: Apparently, drmzz (Mike) claimed his right to that coffee cup sipping (or not sipping) signature.



There, you have it. Now, we got a coffee sipper and a tea sipper. Who is the soda sipper?

unique photographer.

This is one of the most AMAZING photographers I have ever seen! Please check out his website! Here is a sample of his work:

past feelings.

I was reviewing my old blog posts and this one caught my eye. I wrote it on February 6, 2004. In the light of the current issues with coclear implants and speech therapy, it was important to express how I felt then, and I still feel the same today. Enjoy!

Feb. 6, 2004: So, are you saying that if my parents had given me CIs when I was little, the first thing I would 'hear' my parents say would be, "I love you more because you can hear better!"?!

Think again, it's screwed up. What's wrong with parents loving the children regardless of their handicaps, disabilities and/or deafness? I prefer my parents to love me no matter what, than to focus on what is wrong with me! Growing up, I have had some experiences with my parents where it was clear that they were trying to "fix" me. It came to the point that they have been trying too hard with doctor appointments, audiologists and hearing aids. I never had a lot of fun with my parents because they really put too much energy on making me speak perfectly and not allowing me to have a normal childhood. It put a bad strain on our relationship between myself and my family! It won't be any different with cochlear implants. If my parents did put cochlear implants, I would be beyond pissed! Too many parents have this misconception that buying hearing aids or cochlear implants automatically makes their Deaf child(ren) obligated to do what the parents want them to do, having to live their lives through the parents' dreams, realities and high expectations. It has come to the point where life as a Deaf child with hearing aids/cochlear implants reeks of verbal, emotional abuse and near-slavery!

My final point: It is MORE important for me to be understood and loved than to be able to hear and feel "broken"!