My name is Esther, and at 71, I believed my children had deliberately started excluding me from family conversations.
Whenever they visited my home in Kakamega, I struggled to follow their discussions. Sometimes, they laughed while I sat quietly, wondering what was so funny.
I became increasingly lonely.
My grandchildren complained that I never answered when they called me. I accused them of being disrespectful.
Little did I know that something was happening to my hearing.
The embarrassing family gathering
One Sunday, my eldest daughter organised a family lunch.
During the meal, everyone suddenly turned towards me.
Apparently, my grandson had asked me a question three times, but I had heard nothing.
I became angry and accused my children of deliberately embarrassing me.
That evening, my sister suggested contacting Dr Bokko, a traditional spiritual practitioner.
I explained my loneliness and participated in a traditional blessing intended to bring peace to our family.
The hospital discovery
A few days later, my daughter persuaded me to undergo a hearing examination.
The audiologist discovered significant hearing loss in both ears.
I was shocked.
For years, I had mistaken my inability to hear conversations for rejection by my family.
The specialist discussed hearing aids and communication strategies.
After receiving properly fitted hearing aids, I began noticing sounds I had almost forgotten.
I could hear birds outside my bedroom and follow conversations without constantly asking people to repeat themselves.
My grandchildren were delighted.
I cannot say Dr Bokko’s blessing restored my hearing. The hearing aids and professional care made the difference.
However, seeking emotional support helped me acknowledge how isolated I had become.
Today, family gatherings feel different.
I no longer sit silently imagining everyone has forgotten me.
Sometimes, what appears to be a broken relationship is actually a health problem waiting to be discovered.
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