Worldwide Business with kathy ireland®
March 12, 2021
No Comments
I’m a 66-year-old woman and a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient who has been undergoing treatment for almost three years. My doctors at a major cancer center in Tampa, Florida, have been nothing short of incredible. I am beyond grateful to still be here, watching the sun rise and set each day—something I never thought would be possible when I was first diagnosed. Miracles can and do happen.
One of the challenges I have faced, however, is my hearing loss. I wear two cochlear implants, and as great as they are, the implants do not provide perfect hearing. In fact, my hearing seems to be getting worse as my cancer progresses, which adds another layer of difficulty to this journey. The one struggle I never expected—how to communicate with people in a world that now requires everyone to wear masks.
I completely understand the need for masks, and I am not complaining about wearing masks. The real challenge comes when I need to read people’s lips to understand what they are saying. As a hearing-impaired person, lip reading has always been a crucial part of how I communicate, and speechreading is not always easy. And when people wear traditional masks, I cannot lip-read effectively.
There is a solution. A patient advisor at the cancer center introduced me to Safe’N’Clear masks. I was overjoyed! The Communicator™ mask with clear window has a clear panel in the front that allows me to see people’s lips when they speak. This simple, innovative, and powerful feature has made all the difference for me. I am now able to request that medical staff wear these masks when they interact with me. Safe’N’Clear masks allow me to read their lips and facial expressions, which enables me to understand what the medical providers are saying without added frustration or anxiety.
Before I discovered this product, I would sometimes ask people to lower their masks so I could hear them better. As you can imagine, this request to accommodate my hearing loss was not always met with enthusiasm, and I often felt guilty for making the request. Now, thanks to Safe’N’Clear, I can get the protection that masks provide without compromising my accessibility to communication—a deaf-friendly PPE solution that truly works. Win-Win!
I wish for all those patients who find themselves in a situation who do not have access to communication because of standard masks will be able to access these clear window masks. It would make such a difference in alleviating stress and anxiety in healthcare settings, whether for patients like me or others who rely on lip reading for communication.
I am so thankful to Safe’N’Clear for providing this incredible product. The Communicator™ mask with clear window has been a true game-changer for me, and I am grateful for the difference of having access to communication in my cancer journey as I continue to enjoy the beautiful sunrise and sunsets each day.
Thank you, Safe’N’Clear, for making a product that is helping not only me but so many others.
Tips for Others in Similar Situations
If you’re in a similar situation and struggling to communicate in medical settings, I highly recommend asking about Safe’N’Clear masks. They’ve been a lifesaver for me, and they could be for you too. Never underestimate the power of clear communication—it can alleviate so much stress and make the healthcare experience that much more manageable.
