There are multiple goals of Lions Club International that include efforts in HUNGER, VISION, CHILDHOOD CANCER, ENVIRONMENT, AND DIABETES. Two additional speciality areas are that of HEARING and SIGHT. Local Lions Clubs are asked to support these overarching efforts in their community. This article is about one very special lady, Ruth Corueil, and her life challenges first losing her family members, and then her hearing over time.
The hearing mission of Lions Clubs International is Hearing Preservation, Awareness and Action Programs demonstrating concern and respect for the dignity and independence of people who are deaf, hard of hearing or who have speech disorders, with the goal of helping to improve their quality of life. Ruth Corueil is a community neighbor who fit that description, and sought out the San Diego Miramar Lions Club for help in obtaining hearing aids.
Ruth is currently 94 years old, a widow, and who came to San Diego from Palm Springs, CA where she was active in theater and music. During her career, Ruth worked for the local school district in an administrative role helping children and staff. She simultaneously worked in the movie studios computerizing data keeping everything running smoothly. While she was very active in Palm Springs, she decided it was time to join her daughter who lived in San Diego, who also raised birds and animals. However, shortly after Ruth made her move to San Diego, she lost all of her immediate family members and ended up in San Diego widowed and alone.
Alone, with no one to turn to or to help her through some of the daily challenges, neighbors began pitching in to take care of this, or to help with that. Neighbors rallied building a ramp for her rollator, offering a computer so she could order needed items online and have them delivered, and finding a myriad of ways to make her life a safer, healthier one. Community members have continued to demonstrate their devotion and love as best they could, but Ruth had begun to lose her hearing.
She knew she needed hearing aids to help her fully enjoy the life around her, but simply could not afford them. Ruth longed to hear complete conversations, daily chat, and even the birds she loved so much at play in the yard. However, with her diminished hearing and inability to afford hearing aids, she passed her time as best she could. A neighbor than offered to help Ruth find a local source that could possibly provide the gift of hearing back to her, and Ruth was then teamed with the San Diego Miramar Lions Club to channel her needs and requests to the Lions Hearing and Sight Foundation in Long Beach, CA. Lions understand the issue of safety, belonging, quality of life, and independence as it pertains to hearing, and have developed programs to help those in need.
The San Diego Miramar Lions Club quickly went to work on this request by doing the necessary research, reaching out and communicating with the District Hearing/Sight Specialists and local Points of Contact, and then completing the required application forms for Ruth to submit to the Lions Hearing and Sight Foundation. We are so happy to be a small part of this hearing submission process, and have our fingers crossed for Ruth Corueil to have the gift of hearing restored for her. Good luck Ruth!!! We are “ROARING” for you