I Listen To Billy Joel. He Is

I'm A Proud Person Who Happens To Be Deaf. I Don't Want To Change It. I Don't Want To Wake Up And Suddenly Say, 'oh My God, I Can Hear.' That's Not My Dream. It's Not My Dream. I've Been Raised Deaf. I'm Used To The Way I Am. I Don't Want To Change It. Why Would I Ever Want To Change? Because I'm Used To This, I'm Happy.

I'm The Only One In My Family Who Is Deaf, And There Are Still Conversations That Go Around Me That I Miss Out On. And I Ask What's Going On, And I Have To Ask To Be Included. But I'm Not Going To Be Sad About It. I Don't Live In Sad Isolation. It's Just A Situation I'm Used To.

If I Were Offered A Cochlear Implant Today, I Would Prefer Not To Have One. But That's Not A Statement About Hearing Aids Or Cochlear Implants. It's About Who You Are.

I Guess Not Being Able To Hear Just Made Me Adventurous And Daring. And In Most Cases, That Didn't Make My Parents Very Happy With Me.

I Am Grateful For Each And Every Food Bank That Helps Families In Need. Now, More Than Ever, Hunger Is A Crisis In America, And Yet It Is Not Spoken Enough And People Have Yet To Give Enough To Help Those In Need. Local Food Banks Help Fill This Need But They Need Our Help, Our Support, And Most Importantly, Our Dollars. No One Should Ever Go Hungry.