Mary Regan became profoundly deaf at the age of five, when she was struck by meningitis. Here she describes how she overcame her condition
IT IS understandable for any parent to be alarmed when discovering for the first time that their child is deaf, and believing there are few future career opportunities to be followed; just as my own parents did. That is something I proved wrong.
I was born hearing in Longford, and went to a school there for short time before I was suddenly stricken with meningitis at the age of five and a half, and as a result I lost my hearing.
Ever since I have been profoundly deaf, and I do not avail of a hearing-aid as it is ineffective for me. Following my hearing-loss, my parents sought advice as to where I should be educated.
Subsequently, I was sent to St Mary’s school for the deaf – a convent where I received a limited amount of educational subjects. During that time communication had to be oral, and all students were subjected to extensive lip-reading training.
Sign language was sadly forbidden, which is regrettable, because it is the language most indigenous to the deaf community and it is the language I most enjoy using today. I find both oralism and sign language make the best of both worlds.
The most enjoyable moment about living in the convent was making a family of friends, a family that remains strong to this day.
When the time came to leave school, there was a limited career-guidance programme for deaf students. However, I chose medicine, particularly as I had a passion for “alternative” healing which was not a popular pursuit at that time.
Unfortunately, I was discouraged by the authorities as they felt it was a discipline impossible for a deaf person to do. Following this, my self-esteem was damaged and, partly as a result, I later suffered from anorexia.
I was hospitalised in St Patrick’s Hospital for four months. During my confinement there, in the 1970s, I never received any psychotherapy or counselling support. Fortunately, I recovered, and after five years was completely cured.
I owed a great deal to the support of my schoolmates. It is remarkable it worked that way as my friends themselves had no idea what anorexia was. Some time after I left hospital, I got a job in the meteorological office. I enjoyed working there and it was great fun.
My male colleagues filled my heart with joy and laughter, which I later believed to have paved the way to my healing. Perhaps this is the result of the yin/yang principles?
I met and married Tom in 1979. We live in Tallaght and have three grown-up children. When the children were young, by coincidence, a lady approached me requesting aid with sign language which I provided her with. This lady happened to be a reflexologist. She gave me a treatment in exchange for my help. I had never heard of the therapy at that time, but I quickly became curious at the marvels of this art.
Very quickly I started soul-searching and researching the subject, and in the process developed the confidence to pursue it as a career. I began to turn my dream into a reality.
Initially I completed a self-help course in Olive Gentleman’s school of reflexology. I followed this up by completing a diploma course, which I successfully achieved in 1990. Sequentially, I completed a diploma in ITEC and Massage Therapy under the same tutor, Olive Gentleman. I continued to develop new skills, achieving new certificates in the process, all of which I integrated into the practice of holistic care.
Throughout the many classes I attended during these formative years, I was always the only deaf student. I depended solely on lip-reading as interpreters were not available at that time.
It was not easy but with self-belief, motivation and intuitive performance I proved I could do it. Looking back, I believe my achievements were the result of some internal dynamic energy. Interestingly, as far as I am aware, I was the first deaf practitioner to hold diplomas in the field of holistic care.
I have now been running a successful home practice for 18 years. I am still very dedicated to my job, continue to develop new skills, qualifications and remain passionate in what I do. I believe I have a very good impact and influence on my clients’ health.
It is imperative that what people receive is a “good pair of working hands”. I value my brain as the “hearing brain” and of course there are always other senses to compensate for my lack of hearing.
I practise at home two days a week, and work the other two days in St Joseph’s Home for the Deaf and Blind. It is here that the reciprocation of communication bonds me to the residents. They are lucky to have a deaf practitioner to be able to work around a shared identity and culture.
Over the years, I have addressed and organised many workshops and provided services to the deaf community where I was awarded a certificate of appreciation. I am a member of the Irish Reflexologist Institute and the Irish Massage Association, where I continue with further training courses to enhance my practical skills.
For these continual development courses, I now require an interpreter. I have found that this is not easy, as it can be costly, and many educational departments do not have the funding for such a service.
I find this very frustrating, particularly when the Government invests so much money on “cochlear implants” rather than service provision for those with a sensory disability.
My marriage to Tom remains very blessed. I would not have made my dream possible without his support. We share a love for travelling and walking.
We are very proud of our healthy siblings: two sons and one daughter. All of them reached a high standard of educational achievement, and are doing very well for themselves.
As a family we are passionate environmental advocates with a keen interest in human rights and alleviating poverty in the global south.
I have never felt so happy since taking up complementary medicine. It opened a whole new chapter in my life. Occasionally, I think deafness does have hidden purposes but I owe my success to intuition and hard work.
Putting faith in myself and utilising the tower of support which my family have provided me, I managed to pursue a life-long dream.
If you have had a health experience – good or bad– that you would like to share, e-mail healthsupplement@irish-times.ie