Hi everyone! I am reaching out to friends and family and asking for as little or as much as you are willing to donate. It can be hard to ask for help sometimes but I have learned that it can help you grow. I will be using this money to help pay for new hearing aids. I have had the same pair of hearing aids for over ten years and they still work but the technology is now outdated. I have found myself struggling with hearing a lot lately with school and work. It is often completely discouraging and makes me question whether I am capable of working in the field of Counseling. I am currently a full time graduate student at California State University, Fullerton and an MFT trainee working 20-25 hours per week at a shelter for adolescents between the ages of 12-17. I am working full time towards my license as a marriage and family therapist but unfortunately this work is unpaid. I want to begin to acknowledge that my disability should not put limitations on my life and I will do whatever I can to succeed in life. New hearing aids will help me immensely and since I am having difficulties affording them, I am reaching out for help.

I have been considering buying hearing aids for a few years now but decided to wait until my current hearing aids gave out. I kept telling myself that this is just the way it is and nothing can help me. It has finally gotten to the point where I can’t live like this anymore. I need more help, I need all the help I can get, and I need new hearing aids. So, I went to my audiologist and he helped me find the perfect pair of hearing aids that will help me in all the ways that I need. I feel like a kid on Christmas morning. I want to cry tears of joy because I have finally found a glimpse of hope. Maybe I am being dramatic but honestly, living with a hearing impairment is extremely difficult. I often don’t feel like others understand my experience and it feels isolating sometimes. Anyways, here I am, reaching out to you. Anything helps. Thanks for listening!