Hattie

Jennifer and Hattie

Take a moment to sit down, close your eyes and listen to your environment, what do you hear? The world around you is full of buzzing, beeps, rings, thumps, thuds and whistles. Those sounds are not included in my world-why is that you wonder? I am Deaf and since the age of five the "sounds" of my world consist of mere silence. In my home, the oven timers joyous beep continues on ignored-until I am aware of the smell of burning food. The telephone's ring isn't heard and calls from family and friends go by without a friendly greeting of "Hello!" The doorbells warm reminder that company awaits fails to be recognized; therefore, company comes and goes. My nights are filled with sleeplessness and dread that the smoke detector's life saving blare will signal and go by unheard-as I lay awake each night consumed in fear. Once could think of it as turning the volume for ones life to zero; that is, unti ti cuts in, the link to my environment and my world, Hattie. Hattie is a Chocolate Lab and she is a Hearing Dog trained by Dogs for the Deaf, Inc. located in Central Point, Oregon. Hattie has been trained to be my "ears" in every sense of the word. She alerts me to the oven timer, microwave, doorbell/doorknock, telephone, alarm clock, smoke detector and someone calling my name. The day Hattie arrived, I can honestly say I was re-born. September 14, 2007 was the day my life completely transformed into one of sound. Hattie has enabled me to take my hearing disability and turn into a life of infinate possibilities. She has created a "life of many firsts" for me in the three years we've been a team. My nights are now filled with blissful sleep because I know Hattie will alert me to the smoke detector's life saving blare. My home is no longer engulfed by the smells of burning food because I failed to hear the oven timer's beep. Company is now greeted at my door with a friendly smile and a Chocolate Lab full of love. The telphone is now greeted with an enthusiastic "Hello!" I no longer walk alone with a nervous gait, my steps are now filled with independance and my head is held high thanks to my faithful companion, my ears, my Hattie. Every crevice of my home and soul are now filled with sound, peace, love and joy. I am now fully aware of the sounds in my world, silence no longer prevades my soul, thanks to my Hearing Dog, Hattie. Hattie alerts me to my outside environment as well. She has made me aware of birds territorially fighting over a newly built nest or the life flight helicopter flying dutifully overhead. I am also told when the ice cream truck is driving through town. These sounds normally went by without a second glance on my behalf; but now, I am made fully aware and can stop and enjoy the world around me. If ever God inteded for an angel to be sent my way, he did so in ten fold when he sent Hattie to me. Hattie may not have a halo or wings but she is my divine intervention. Hattie is my life, my world, my companion and ears. My ears have Chocolate fur, a tail and a heart of gold!