Nucleus Hero: Kassie DePaiva
Kassie DePaiva is a very busy lady. She was originally born in Morganfield, Kentucky, where her parents were her biggest influences. Today she is a wife and mother, portrays the character of Blair Cramer on One Life to Live, and is an upcoming musician with her CD I Want to Love You. Additionally, her family has faced the struggle of hearing loss.
On May 12, 1997, Kassie and James had a son named James Quentin, better known as J.Q. DePaiva. During the first few months of his life, J.Q. visited a pediatrician for routine check-ups – none of which revealed his deafness, caused by an enlarged vestibular aqueduct. Kassie and James had suspicions, and felt it was time to investigate. At one year old, J.Q. was diagnosed with bilateral profound hearing loss that he had experienced since birth. He was immediately fitted with high powered hearing aids. Kassie and James then decided a cochlear implant was the best solution for their family. At 18 months old, J.Q. received his first cochlear implant. The benefits were extraordinary. When JQ was almost eight years old, he received his second cochlear implant.
J.Q. is now 11, and is doing beautifully. He is a happy, outgoing and confident child. His cochlear implants have not slowed him down. His favorite music is rock and roll. He and his family have a wonderful life in New York City, where J.Q. is thriving at a mainstream school. J.Q. also expresses his desire to raise awareness and give hope to others with hearing loss. He has even appeared on All My Children as part of a story line involving a character facing profound hearing loss to bring awareness to this topic.
Kassie has also dedicated her time to raising awareness for hearing loss. During Capital Hill Healthy Hearing Day in 2002, Kassie, James and JQ spoke in front of a group of senators and representatives to raise awareness for newborn hearing testing. Kassie stressed that hearing loss is the number one birth defect in America, and that children need to be tested for hearing loss at birth. “The earlier a child is diagnosed and is fitted with appropriate hearing technology, the earlier a child learns to hear and learn language.”1
Kassie also makes Happy Hats. These hats are each unique and handmade with lots of love by Kassie, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting The League of Hard of Hearing. The league is a non-profit hearing rehabilitation and human service agency for all who are hard of hearing, deaf and deaf blind.
Additionally, Kassie is participating in the Raise Your Hand campaign to help raise awareness during Better Hearing and Speech Month in May, and throughout the year. To find out more information about Kassie and her family, please visit Raise Your Hand.
1http://www.kassiedepaiva.com/advocate1.html
