Protecting Kiera (SEAL of Protection Book 9)

By Susan Stoker

Previously published in Kindle Worlds, Protecting Kiera, the ninth book in Susan Stoker’s SEAL of Protection series, is the story of former Navy SEAL Cooper Nelson and Kiera Hamilton, who teaches hearing-impaired children.

Cooper’s career as a Navy SEAL was cut short when he was left almost completely deaf after an explosion. His hearing loss, and consequently losing the profession he has ever known, Cooper’s pride and self-esteem take a beating until his commander forces him to volunteer at a school for the deaf, where he meets Kiera.

This story is another of Susan Stoker’s worth reading, even if it was a bit cheesy. Yes, cheesy. That is not why I love Kiera and Cooper’s story, though: it is because, once again, Susan Stoker teaches us, her readers, how to be empathetic to those with disabilities. This time, those who are hearing-impaired.

‘You’re not disabled by the disabilities you have; you are able by the abilities you have.’

–Oscar Pistorius

Kiera and Cooper’s story got my attention at the very same time that I am having difficulty hearing in my left ear. Three weeks ago, as I was taking a shower, my hearing suddenly became muffled, followed by a piercing, itchy sensation. At first, I thought it was just water getting into my ear—but as the days passed and the discomfort continued, I finally decided to go see an ear specialist.

The doctor did the routine check, said that I had an ear infection, and sent me home with an ear drop prescription which I had to religiously apply for two weeks.

Two weeks later, the itchiness has lessened, but the muffled sensation—and a constant, high-pitched ringing sound, remained.

In an article entitled Emotional Effects of Untreated Hearing Loss written by Debbie Clason for Healthy Hearing, “the psychological effects of untreated hearing loss for both children and adults can include increased outbursts of anger, low self-confidence, frustration, embarrassment, and depression. Adults may experience periods of sadness and grieving as their ability to hear diminishes. They also may feel more fatigued, as the struggle to hear and understand can be physically exhausting.

In Protecting Kiera, Cooper’s hearing loss caused him to feel all the emotions listed by Clason. He felt isolated at times, and only Kiera was determined to help him overcome the disability that gave him the strength and confidence to cope with his “new normal,” so to speak.

As I write this, I cannot help but think that it was fate that led me to Susan Stoker’s book, as I have been feeling anxious thinking of what-ifs: what if I lose hearing not just in my left ear, but both ears? What if I will not able to do the work that I do, transcribing the speeches and interviews of my boss?

The other day when I was doing a transcript, I felt as if cotton was stuffed deep inside my ear, making me feel dizzy as I did my best to finish what I was doing. It was hard, but I finished because I had to.

Gandhi once said, ‘Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.’

Like Cooper, I know that I must find ways to cope if I do lose the ability to hear. Besides, if famous people like Ludwig van Beethoven, Thomas Edison, Hellen Keller were able to overcome their hearing disability, why can’t I, right? Not to mention countless others whose lives we may have come across in our journey through life.

It is not easy. Blind, deaf, from birth or circumstance— being differently-abled impacts a person’s perception and psyche one way or the other. What is sad is that, although the world today has largely come to realize that having such disabilities does not mean that one will never be productive in society, there are still stigma especially for the deaf community.

A paper written by Victoria L. Mousley and Stephenie R. Chaudoir for the Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education dated May 31, 2018, states that “deaf individuals experience worse psychological and physical health relative to their hearing counterparts. For example, higher rates of impulse control disorders, depressive symptoms, and developmental disorders have been recorded in deaf populations. Similarly, deaf individuals report worse rates of physical well-being and are less likely to utilize health care systems than hearing individuals.”

In a meta-analysis of almost 400 studies, Mousley and Chaudoir’s paper states that “experiences of discrimination were significantly related to poorer psychological well-being (e.g., depression, anxiety) among a wide array of stigmas such as mental illness, physical disability, HIV-positive status, and race. Similarly, meta-analytic findings also suggest that experiences of discrimination are linked to poorer physical health and greater health-compromising behaviors such as alcohol and drug use.”

How then can we help destigmatize deafness?

Clason encourages everyone to be an advocate for the deaf, saying that “one thing you can do to show your support is to be an advocate for your loved one with hearing loss.” Visit and get insights from organizations like Healthy Hearing whose mission is to improve the quality of life for people with hearing loss. Join local help groups, mingle with the deaf community, etc.

One thing I would suggest is, never, ever, make them feel less, because sometimes, those who are deaf see, hear, and understand more about life than we do.