“I'd feel lost without Belle”

Belle helped Lorna grow as a person, from lacking in confidence, to being able to live a full, rewarding life.

Without Belle, I wouldn’t have a life like I have today. I wouldn’t be confident. I wouldn’t be able to go out and meet people. Life would be flat. Two dimensional. Without any spark. 

I was born deaf, but back in the ’70s they couldn’t diagnose what had happened. Eventually it emerged I had Mondini dysplasia. This means my cochleas haven’t formed properly, and today I wear hearing aids.

It’s fair to say that deaf awareness was lacking back then. At primary school, there was a deaf unit that I could go into for some lessons, but as soon as I hit high school, I was put into the mainstream. People just thought I was lazy and would throw things at me. I didn’t have a great time.

Deafness really is an ‘invisible disability’. People just assume you can hear them and get angry or frustrated with you. So, before Belle, I didn’t have that visibility through her burgundy coat. Now, it’s a really strong signal to people and completely changes their attitudes.

After my early experiences at school, I became extremely shy. I could not give people eye contact. I ended up having very little social life.

In a social setting, I’d be on the side-lines. I would lose track of the conversation while trying to lipread everyone, so I’d just let the conversation flow, even if I hadn’t understood what was being said. I was too lacking in confidence to ask people to repeat themselves.

I remember one lovely neighbour started talking to me one day and helped bring me out of my shell. She was probably the only person that I really spoke to, apart from my parents and my one friend.

I felt so isolated and anxious, even after I married. I would be at home on my own when my husband, John, was out at work. The hours would just drag by, and I would be left alone with my thoughts and worries about missing sounds. 

Now, with Belle I have company. My days aren’t spent just waiting for John to come home – now I am either out and about with Belle or have her to keep me company at home.

Generally I’m much more involved in the world around me, thanks to Belle giving me confidence in myself. I have a lot of friends in the Hearing Dogs community. I’m always volunteering for community walks, fundraising, that sort of thing. I feel more connected.

I was so lacking in confidence before Belle came into my life. I wouldn’t put myself in a situation where I was with a group of people I didn’t know. 

It affected many areas of my life. For example, it would take me a lot of courage to get the bus on my own. I used to borrow books from the library but would dread having to take them back. I always waited until the due day. I’d endure the bus, come back home, and be exhausted with the ordeal. 

Now, I’ve grown in confidence so much that I can do more for myself. I love animals, and I like to visit Whipsnade by myself, as a special treat. I can leave Belle at home with my husband, John, knowing that she’s safe and secure.

I’m also no longer ashamed of my deafness. Belle’s burgundy jacket highlights my ‘invisible disability’. I even wear my hair short now to show off my hearing aids.

As well as helping me emotionally, there are so many ways Belle helps me practically too. She tells me about the cooker timer, which is really handy. I could never hear it and would just forget. When it goes, Belle finds me, gives me a nudge with her nose, and I hold my hands out and say: ‘What is it Belle?’. Then she leads me to the cooker, and I give her a cuddle and a fuss for being such a good girl. 

The smoke alarm is a big thing for me too. This is the one alert where Belle hits the deck if she hears it. It’s so clever, because it tells me the alarm is going off, but she’s not going to lead me into danger. 

Belle’s helped me from day one, to come out of my shell, and learn to be truly myself. She really did help me escape from loneliness and connect with the world.  

It would be wonderful if you could consider donating to my appeal. I’d love to think that, by sharing my story, more amazing dogs like Belle could be trained, and help more deaf people like me.   

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Our hearing dogs help deaf people overcome feelings of loneliness, anxiety, depression and isolation. They also become a deaf person's best friend. 

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