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Shandanette's Bionic Ear!

Helping everyone's favorite doula/law student/reproductive rights/reproductive justice activist get a SoundBite hearing device!

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Shandanette's Bionic Ear!

Shandanette's Bionic Ear!

Shandanette's Bionic Ear!

Shandanette's Bionic Ear!

Shandanette's Bionic Ear!

Helping everyone's favorite doula/law student/reproductive rights/reproductive justice activist get a SoundBite hearing device!

Helping everyone's favorite doula/law student/reproductive rights/reproductive justice activist get a SoundBite hearing device!

Helping everyone's favorite doula/law student/reproductive rights/reproductive justice activist get a SoundBite hearing device!

Helping everyone's favorite doula/law student/reproductive rights/reproductive justice activist get a SoundBite hearing device!

Kevin Kalb
Kevin Kalb
Kevin Kalb
Kevin Kalb
1 Campaign |
Washington, DC, United States
$1,545 USD 43 backers
22% of $7,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

 

Shandanette has experienced recurrent ear issues and hearing loss for most of her life, but until now, non-surgical solutions have been unavailable. Traditional hearing aids will not improve her hearing because she has both conductive (no inner ear bones and a damaged eardrum) and neural hearing loss. Traditional hearing aids would be like turning up the volume on poorly recorded audio. It wouldn't clarify sounds, only amplify the garbled noises.

Thanks to a newish technology (http://www.sonitusmedical.com/product/technology.cfm), Shandanette has the opportunity to improve her hearing without undergoing surgery, but unfortunately, it will cost between $4,300 and 6,800 yet the audiologist and dental impression costs (another $800). (Did you know that most insurance DOES NOT cover hearing aids and devices? Hearing aids and devices also last roughly 3 to 5 years, so liftetime costs for a Deaf and/or hard of hearing person are pretty high!)

As a community worker and volunteer AND a graduate student pursuing two concurrent degrees, Shandanette lacks the monetary resources to purchase the hearing device, so we are reaching out to our network of friends and family to see if anyone can contribute. No amount is too small, and all assistance is greatly and sincerely appreciated.

Wouldn't you want to help out a person who is poised to do so much good?

This is the part where we're supposed to offer specific rewards for people who contribute specific amounts. Fortunately it's much simpler than that. Anyone who contributes any amount is doing Shandanette a huge favor, so I'm willing to consider anything for repayment. Need someone to help you move? I got it. Want me to cook you dinner? No problem. Need to haul something? We have a hatchback vehicle. Really, you name it and it's on the table. Shandanette having the chance to improve her hearing in any way means so much to me and to her that I'll be at your disposal. Just ask!

If you have any questions at all, please email me at Kalb.kevin@gmail.com.

Thanks!

-Kevin

 

Update: Shandanette was asked to include information about how she thought the SoundBite would improve the quality of her life. Here's what she said:

There are a few major ways I expect my life to change following getting the SoundBite:

1) School. My university lends me an assisted listening device to use, but there is so much int
erference (static) from wireless computers, that I end up with a screaming headache by the end of the day. Sometimes the static is so bad that the ALD is unusable. With the use of a hearing device like SoundBite, I will be able to hear lectures and questions from classmates - this is HUGE.

2) As my hearing has gotten worse, I've developed a bit of anxiety in social situations, and for some reason, it's not always easy (or well-received) to ask someone to repeat themselves. Plus, it sort of destroys the timing and delivery of a joke if I miss it the first time around and ask someone to repeat it after everyone's had a good laugh. Lastly, if someone is on my left side, I can't hear them at all, and I know that folks perceive me as rude because of this.

3) Because my hearing loss is predominantly in my left ear, I cannot always determine the location of sounds. This is an issue of safety in a lot of ways, particularly when it comes to hearing sirens and needing to pull over. Also, one night for instance, I experienced intense panic when I heard people yelling and angrily fighting but couldn't tell which direction I needed to walk to avoid their angry path!

That said, being hard of hearing isn't all bad. One of my favorite games EVER involves laying on my good ear and having someone say things into my deaf ear. The nonsensical things my imagination comes up with makes for great laughs! We should try it sometime, y'all!

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Good Hug!

$5 USD
Y'all know we give great hugs, right? For $5 and with your consent, we'll give you a big ol' hug the next time we see you.
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Hug AND a Snail-Mail Thank You

$10 USD
Love hugs? Love mail? Get both!
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Tier 1

$25 USD
Hey, whats your sweet of choice? Chewy chocolate chip cookies? Fudgy brownies with chocolate chips, nuts, or peppermint? Peanut butter pie? You let me know and Ill make you some and send it to you wherever you are
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Knitted Hat!

$100 USD
For $100, Shandanette will knit you a hat! You can pick the color and she'll send you a few patterns to choose from, and then you get your very own hand-knitted hat. Also, for $100, I owe you a favor. Need brute force? Want dinner? This is where the more involved but less-specific stuff comes in!
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Tier 5

$500 USD
Wow. That's a lot of money. First born, mortal soul. Let's talk turkey.
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