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But also Gram would always defend me, no matter what; and above ALL ELSE, made me feel like the most special person in the world until she passed at 91 years of age. She was the strongest woman I have ever known.

Spiritually, emotionally and physically like many people in her era, she worked so hard, both inside and outside of the home. She would bake and cook for her church to earn money for a new addition to the building, to the point of filling a SUV with the back seat down, loading it full of food.

THE POINT OF THIS STORY IS: No matter what she did for others, nothing else mattered more than the time she spent talking with us, sharing her heart and wisdom.

“ Que Sera Sera” Gram would say when faced with hard times.“ Stress, what do they mean, stress?” She had to care for my grandfather who had severe gout, a tracheotomy, and was on oxygen for a very long time. She never complained about it, and was always our“ rock.“

When I was going through difficult times, I traveled almost every weekend to be with my grandmother. She never judged, always listened and, of course, was in my corner. It was the talking, the communication – heart-to-heart sharing... this is why hearing those we love matters so much.

As a hearing healthcare provider, I kept my grandmother wearing hearing aids for over 25 years. She remained active, sharp and clear minded and could talk to me like my best friend. At the age of 90 my grandmother suffered a mini stroke that affected her hearing and central auditory processing. It immediately created a wall and barrier around her, and it was heartwrenching for me to see her frustration and inability to communicate. There was nothing I could do to help her!! She withdrew.

Never before in my career did I fully realize the impact of hearing in one ' s life. Never did I realize how our quality of life was so greatly impacted by the ability to communicate and to stay in touch with people and the world. Never did I think there would be such a wall between Gram and myself.

I had spent a lifetime studying and observing hearing loss through patients. I witnessed their improvements through wearing hearing devices, both cognitively and emotionally, through clinical verification, and in their stories. However, I did not experience the pain of hearing loss until it involved my dearest friend and myself.

I did experience the benefit of attaining good hearing through wearing hearing instruments and the value they provided in Gram’ s life. The impact she had on my life and on the lives of my family was enormous for those 25 years. How sad it would have been if we missed out on those wonderful years. How thankful we all are for the gift of better hearing.

If you are a grandparent with grandchildren of any age, never underestimate the valuable role you play in their lives by communicating with them. Maintain your cognition by feeding your brain with all of the information it needs to stay sharp. A hearing evaluation by a qualified hearing healthcare professional will give you the information and guidance you need for help with your hearing. If the eyes are the window to the soul, then surely our ears are the doorway to our heart. THIS IS WHY OUR HEARING MATTERS SO MUCH! Call Swift Audiology for more information or to schedule a complimentary comprehensive hearing evaluation at 888.927.1853, or visit online at www. swiftaudiology. com.

“ This organization really cares about its people and its clients, they really do. Debbie always wants to know how it ' s coming along, what can we do, is there anything that is bothering you? Those are very comforting questions for people who have hearing impairment.” Joe- satisfied patient of Swift Audiology

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY! 888.927.1853

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