Post by Raelynn on Jul 14, 2006 16:21:47 GMT -5
Name:: Raelynn Hunter Summitt
But call me:: Rae *Not Lynn or Raelynn*
Age:: 16
Gender:: Female
Hair Color:: Vivid Blonde
Eye Color:: Stunning Green
Appearance:: There's no doubt that I am beautiful, but when people find out I am deaf they automatically think of me as "handicap". But I see nothing wrong with me. Handicap to me means 'not able to function properly'. But I can eat, I can do regular things that I did before. Being deaf has not held me back one bit. I usually wear regular jeans and a t-shirt. I really don't care what people think of me. My hair is either held up in a sloppy bun or wore down. I wear only two pieces of jewelry all the time. A medical bracelet around my wrist that tells that I am deaf. The other is a silver, hollow heart threaded of a thin silver chain.
History:: I have lived the normal life, riding horses, showing and advancing in level. Let me take you back to the day that changed my life...I had a shot at Nationals, I just needed to make it through the State Show. I was young, only 13. I was the youngest in my classes. Her mount was a pinto/thoroughbred cross named Toaro. Toaro had been skittish that day. It was our next to last class of the day, and we really needed to do good. Our first couple jumps were fine, but after that Toaro began to hesitate, reluctant to go over the low jumps. We were competing in show jumping, the highest jump on that course was 3' 2", I had jumped much higher. On the 7th jump Toaro unexpectedly refused, I had already perched forward in two point position. I was thrown forward, landing on the ground roughly. I don't remember anything else. I responded to touch, but not to speech or sound. The doctors said I was in a slight coma. My parents said they talked to me for 3 days before I woke up. I remember laying there in bed, watching as my parents lips moved.... yet I heard nothing. I could speak, but I couldn't hear my own voice.I was deaf. The news had been hard to accept but I really had no other choice. The doctors recomended no more riding.Recomended. That didn't mean I couldn't ride. I was soon back in the saddle. But it was rough, I had to learn sign language, and to read lips.
I will admit it, the past 3 years of my life have not been easy, but I face my obstacles like any other teenagers. I just have to learn how to manage without my hearing. I can feel vibrations in the floor when people are approaching, I am quick to see movements. For example, when someone is walking up behind me, the first thing I will pick up is the vibrations in the floor. If the light is positioned right I can see their shadow. I have memorized the stride length and force of some of my closest friends's walk. This way I will know who it is. My eyes are very sensitive to movement and blinking lights.
Persona:: You would never think of me as deaf if you were to see me around the house. I move about without any troubles, taking care of things I needed to do independantly. I try to make friends, but it is hard to communicate when they don't know sign language. I can write and read properly, but most people don't bother to even take the time. I can read lips very well, as long as someone is facing me as they talk, I know what they are saying. I am very independant, hardly ever needing assistant with tasks. I love to play pranks on people, I have a good sense of humor too. Being deaf does not give me a reason to lock myself in a dark room, huddle up in a corner and witdraw from society.
Picture::
But call me:: Rae *Not Lynn or Raelynn*
Age:: 16
Gender:: Female
Hair Color:: Vivid Blonde
Eye Color:: Stunning Green
Appearance:: There's no doubt that I am beautiful, but when people find out I am deaf they automatically think of me as "handicap". But I see nothing wrong with me. Handicap to me means 'not able to function properly'. But I can eat, I can do regular things that I did before. Being deaf has not held me back one bit. I usually wear regular jeans and a t-shirt. I really don't care what people think of me. My hair is either held up in a sloppy bun or wore down. I wear only two pieces of jewelry all the time. A medical bracelet around my wrist that tells that I am deaf. The other is a silver, hollow heart threaded of a thin silver chain.
History:: I have lived the normal life, riding horses, showing and advancing in level. Let me take you back to the day that changed my life...I had a shot at Nationals, I just needed to make it through the State Show. I was young, only 13. I was the youngest in my classes. Her mount was a pinto/thoroughbred cross named Toaro. Toaro had been skittish that day. It was our next to last class of the day, and we really needed to do good. Our first couple jumps were fine, but after that Toaro began to hesitate, reluctant to go over the low jumps. We were competing in show jumping, the highest jump on that course was 3' 2", I had jumped much higher. On the 7th jump Toaro unexpectedly refused, I had already perched forward in two point position. I was thrown forward, landing on the ground roughly. I don't remember anything else. I responded to touch, but not to speech or sound. The doctors said I was in a slight coma. My parents said they talked to me for 3 days before I woke up. I remember laying there in bed, watching as my parents lips moved.... yet I heard nothing. I could speak, but I couldn't hear my own voice.I was deaf. The news had been hard to accept but I really had no other choice. The doctors recomended no more riding.Recomended. That didn't mean I couldn't ride. I was soon back in the saddle. But it was rough, I had to learn sign language, and to read lips.
I will admit it, the past 3 years of my life have not been easy, but I face my obstacles like any other teenagers. I just have to learn how to manage without my hearing. I can feel vibrations in the floor when people are approaching, I am quick to see movements. For example, when someone is walking up behind me, the first thing I will pick up is the vibrations in the floor. If the light is positioned right I can see their shadow. I have memorized the stride length and force of some of my closest friends's walk. This way I will know who it is. My eyes are very sensitive to movement and blinking lights.
Persona:: You would never think of me as deaf if you were to see me around the house. I move about without any troubles, taking care of things I needed to do independantly. I try to make friends, but it is hard to communicate when they don't know sign language. I can write and read properly, but most people don't bother to even take the time. I can read lips very well, as long as someone is facing me as they talk, I know what they are saying. I am very independant, hardly ever needing assistant with tasks. I love to play pranks on people, I have a good sense of humor too. Being deaf does not give me a reason to lock myself in a dark room, huddle up in a corner and witdraw from society.
Picture::
