Friday 31 August 2007

Perfect That Way

I posted the lyrics below in a post on a messageboard. The lyrics are very touching, and even though I do not see Lotte in this way, it is good to realise that there are many different people in this world.
On Hands & Voices, I found the link to the actual singer and a story about her. And, almost as a bonus, there's a MP3 there with the song.. all the way on the bottom.... or click here.
(Get your hankies out!)



Perfect That Way

She was born a little less than perfect
at least in that doctor's eyes
he said that she'll be different
much more than you ever realized
that girl grew up not knowing
the sound of her mama's voice
God's gift to her was silence
in a world so full of noise

and she sings with her smile
and talks with her hands
she listens with her heart
so she always understands
she believes there's more to life
than the sounds that it makes
she's perfect that way

shes got a sign for the thunder
one for the wind and the rain
she's the kind that keeps you laughing
and the first to see your pain

and she sings with her smile
and talks with her hands
she listens with her heart
so she always understands
she believes there's more to life
than the sounds that it makes

she's perfect that way
she believes there's more to life
than the sounds that it makes
she's perfect that way

she was born a little less than perfect
at least in that doctor's eyes.

A reaction came on my post, saying:
"Cloggy - I am confused.... you brought up this poem which say that a deaf child is perfect that way. (I really related to that poem) Yet, you had your daughter implanted bilaterally."

My reply was:
"Fair question... My daughter is perfect, like everyone else.
And before we knew about CI, we accepted how this child was going to learn us something. A new language, a new way to "travel"
When we heard about CI, we investigated, and found out that this perfect girl would be able to join us in our hearing world. Would that make her more perfect - NO. (How can one improve on perfect?)
It would however give her more connection to her family, friends, people around her.
Would she be less perfect had she not had CI.. NO.. She would still be her.
We made it possible for her to hear. As parents, we made that choice because she was too smal to do it herself. With making the decision for her, we made sure that the possibilities that are there, are used to the maximum..
Again, she was perfect when she was born. She still is..
Perhaps you have to look at it this way... We didn't fix anything. We gave her someting."

2 comments:

HearingExchange said...

Hi,

I love reading about Lotte and the experiences your family is having.

What a great comment, "We didn't fix anything. We gave her something." It is a wonderful way of looking at parents' personal decisions to have their children undergo cochlear implant surgery. We are not trying to make them "not deaf," we are offering them the opportunity to learn to listen and speak and communicate with the world at large. Eventually, they can and will decide what identity and community they are most comfortable with. By giving them the ability to hear with cochlear implants, we are broadening their choices.

Paula Rosenthal
HearingExchange.com

Karen Putz said...

Hi Cloggy,

I never even thought of the CI when listening to this song. My kids use hearing aids and I still thought this song was perfect for them-- because life is more than the sounds in their life and I figured the song was about the "whole" kid than the sum of what they can or can't hear.

(Some) Milestones

  • 2013-08: Grade 6
  • 2012-08: Grade 5
  • 2011-08: Grade 4
  • 2011-03: BTE's on the ear
  • 2010-08: Grade 3
  • 2009-08: Grade 2
  • 2008-08: Mainstream School (6y. old)
  • 2006-10: All-hearing Kindergarten (4y. old)
  • 2004-11-22: CI activated (27 m. old)
  • 2004-10-04: Bi-lateral CI (26 m. old)
  • 2003-08: Deaf/HOH/CI Pre-school/"DEAF" Kindergarten (12m. old)
  • 2003-07: HA's fitted (11 m. old)
  • 2003-06: Diagnosed deaf. Start sign-language (10m. old)
  • 2002-11: Suspicion loss of hearing (4 m. old)
  • 2002-08: Born - A fierce LION
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