Colorado Tinnitus Awareness Day May 21

Donna, my wife, who has suffered with Tinnitus for the past 12 years, has been in touch with Diane Primavera, who is a Colorado State Representative, for the last year. Donna has expressed deeply to Representative Primavera, her concerns about the lack of awareness that Tinnitus has and the dangers we all face day to day. We don't realize that living in a noise drenched society that our ears are constantly under attack from loud music, vehicles on the road, construction sites, airplanes, ipods etc. People who have it don't even know what it is they have. Some don't know how to pronounce it. And a lot of people do not know how to prevent it and what causes Tinnitus. The biggest problem with Tinnitus is once you get it, you got it. There is not a lot that can be done for this problem. Doctors turn their backs on you, your friends and family don't understand you, and the piece and quiet you used to enjoy is gone. So Donna felt compelled to do what every she could to help fight this problem which led her to getting more awareness of the devastation that comes with the territory of having Tinnitus. So as they visited with each other in person, on the phone, by email a resolution was drafted for a state awareness day. Not knowing whether this would pass or not the steps Donna had taken felt positive. The American Tinnitus Association has been behind Donna every step of the way, in more ways than we could ever imagine. More details will be forth coming on her efforts to raise awareness and funds for research. For more info on the American Tinnitus Association go to www.ata.org.
Well we received an email giving us a day when the resolution would be heard. So on May 1, 2008 Donna and myself were on the floor of the state capitol building in Denver as the resolution was read. Afterwards 2 other state reps got up and gave testimony on their issues with Tinnitus and how it has affected their lives. The resolution passed 60-1 and became official on May 21. This is not a cure but another step towards an eventual cure. The more recognition this problem gets the more it will effect the people that can make a difference, Washington DC as a big example.
As someone who does not have this problem I am able to understand the suffering that goes along with Tinnitus. But also the strong conviction that one can have to climb mountains, to overcome a physical ailment, whatever the ailment maybe, cancer, Tinnitus, etc. One person, which at the time we thought are you nuts, said that this was a gift. Well you have to look really hard to find the gift in Tinnitus, but it makes you a stronger person to fight the good fight against this problem. Just setting foot outside your door can be an extreme effort, but you find the courage to push on. I have seen this first hand through Donna.