Mount Pleasant Teen Advocates for Inclusion Through Personal Journey with Hearing Loss

Mount Pleasant Teen Turns Adversity Into a Message of Inclusion

In the charming town of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, a remarkable 16-year-old girl named Kallyn Long is making waves with her inspiring story. Kallyn is not your average teenager; she’s a fierce advocate for inclusivity, and she’s doing it all while navigating the ups and downs of an invisible disability.

A Rollercoaster of Emotions

Let’s take a trip down memory lane to April 2022. Kallyn, feeling adventurous, decided to ride an amusement park ride at Carowinds. What started as a fun-filled day turned her life into a real-life rollercoaster ride that she never saw coming. At just 13 years old, Kallyn discovered she was born with a rare condition called Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct (EVA), which affects how the brain connects to the ear.

“I went through all my whole life hearing on both sides,” Kallyn explains. But after that fateful day at the amusement park, a week later, she noticed something wasn’t quite right. “I felt like my ear was kind of clogged and I had a couple headaches,” she recalls. A doctor’s visit led her to an ENT specialist—only to find that she had lost the ability to hear from her right ear. The g-forces from the rollercoaster ride had triggered her EVA and caused her hearing to detach.

Embracing the Journey

Initially overwhelmed by all the unknowns, Kallyn now knows that her condition indeed affects her hearing. Thankfully, she has her trusty cochlear implant, whom she affectionately named Cordelia. “She’s always with me. I mean, everywhere I go, Cordelia is with me,” Kallyn shares with a smile.

However, going back to school posed its challenges. Kallyn worried how her peers would react to her condition. She recalls, “Some kids, especially nowadays, they like to take a flaw of yours or something that makes you different and almost make it your nickname.” She mentions the name-calling, like being jokingly referred to as “Helen Keller.” While some peers meant well, the jabs were tough to handle.

A New Mission

Despite the hurdles, Kallyn has transformed her experience into a cause for good. She recently authored a delightful book titled “Cordelia And Me,” where she shares her story of hearing loss while promoting the idea of loving your unique “self.” Kallyn feels it’s vital to encourage others to embrace inclusivity and empower those with invisible disabilities like herself.

“There is ability in any disability,” she passionately states. Participating in pageants provided Kallyn with a platform to spread messages of inclusivity. Through her book, she aims to reach younger audiences, imparting lessons wrapped in a relatable narrative.

A Message of Hope

Kallyn’s words resonate deeply as she reflects on her experiences. “Always lead with curiosity and always lead with empathy,” she advises. “You never know someone’s story.” She believes that everyone has their own storm, some unnoticeable like her own. “You cannot be afraid of your storm because that’s what makes you different,” she says. “There will always be a ray of light that will break through those clouds, and you always just have to remember there’s a rainbow after a storm.”

Finding Strength in Faith

Finding solace in her faith, Kallyn holds dear the message found in the Bible: “You do not realize what I’m doing now, but later you will understand.” This has become her mantra, providing her strength to navigate the uncertainties of life.

If you’re interested in reading Kallyn’s empowering tale, you can find her book, “Cordelia and Me,” at local bookstores or on popular online platforms. It’s a heartfelt story that not only shares her journey but also invites others to celebrate their own uniqueness with open arms.