September 16, 2025 • 27 mins
What happens when the world suddenly goes silent on one side? Victoria's recent ear surgery has left her completely deaf in one ear, forcing her to navigate a new reality where simple interactions become profound challenges. In this raw and emotional episode, we take you through the journey of adaptation and resilience that follows a life-altering medical procedure.
The moment hits hardest at a store checkout when Victoria can't hear the cashier speaking to her deaf side. It's a stark reminder of what life will be like moving forward—a reality made more poignant by the memory of asking loved ones to speak "one more time in my right ear" before surgery. With a cochlear implant priced at $300,000 and not covered by insurance, Victoria faces permanent unilateral hearing loss with remarkable courage.
Despite facing significant health challenges, both hosts refuse to succumb to bitterness. "We have the right to be absolutely bitter and the nastiest of people. But we're not," Victoria explains. This philosophy extends to their work helping others heal from trauma through their academy and free courses—efforts that have earned them five global awards yet still attract criticism from those who seem determined to "rain on their parade."
The episode offers beautiful glimpses into their family life, from their daughter Faith's touching pre-surgery gifts to their service dogs' intuitive adaptation to Victoria's recovery needs. Even while managing pain and adaptation, Victoria maintains her unstoppable spirit—cleaning kitchens at 4 am and baking muffins without pain medication.
Join us for this intimate look at maintaining humanity, humor, and hope when life changes in an instant. And if our work resonates with you, consider supporting our mission to make healing accessible to all through the donation button at acontagioussmile.com. Even $5 helps us continue offering free resources to those who need them most.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Howdy y'all.
Welcome to another episode ofContagious Smile Unstoppable
with the lovely and sexy andjust out of surgery.
Victoria, you're a publishedauthor of 43 books.
Now that's right, y'all.
She's written 43 booksone-handed.
Well, let me take that back.
(00:22):
She's written three books.
No, she's written a lot morethan that.
Anyway, she's here with herhusband, which makes her 100%.
(00:52):
Yeah, because of pieces ofshits out there that like to
beat on women, cowards, and yeah.
So, last thing, thanks to mywife.
So, no, thank you, dumbass toyou out there, the freaking
idiot who still gets to walkaround.
(01:13):
Yeah, I'm sorry, I'm a littlehot yes, you are whatever, my
wife uh may not sound as usualchipper herself because, like I
said, she's just out of surgery.
Uh, what is this monday?
So what friday?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
yes, I need two hours .
And then he thought, oh well,let's admit her.
Are you serious?
okay, all right, my husband wasobviously there, so check this
out, so we go in there for thesurgery and the anesthesiologist
comes in Okay, I've never hadthis team before and she's like
what are we doing today?
And I said we are making medeaf.
(01:52):
And she starts laughing and Iwas like, wait a minute, why is
that funny?
Like she kept laughing about it.
I was like, no, really, why isthis funny?
It's not funny.
And so when we get, I go back,I don't do versed I don't do any
of that stuff when I get backin vor I'm this coherent and
when I first got there.
I've had no medication, and soher fellow or resident was
(02:17):
helping to get me ready and Iwas like I seriously cannot
believe that she thought it wasfunny, the I was losing my
hearing, Because there's nothingreally funny about it.
And I said and then I wanted tosee if I could have them like
video me as to how long it takesme to go to sleep and she said
(02:38):
that's not real, all the.
TikToks are performers.
They're not real going to sleepbecause they can't do that
Anyway.
So I turn around and I ask theguy who's above me at that point
and I said that's just not nice.
And I was like, oh my god, she'shere, isn't she?
And she turns around, looks atme.
I was like, great, so I get outof surgery several hours and I
(03:00):
get into recovery.
And you have to realize thatI'm in this contraption that I
call a jock strap, becausethat's what it looks like.
Right over my ear, my ears, Ilook like a puffer fish, like
from hitch when he had theseafood and he's all like a
puffer fish.
And so they're like how youdoing, how?
Speaker 1 (03:17):
you doing?
I'm like oh.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
I always get nauseous after anesthetic always.
So what does she say?
Like she's trying to rush meout.
Like she's got a mailappointment and she's like, well
, we could just admit you intothe hospital, we'll just
transfer you and and be admitted.
Uh, no, no, no, no.
So now I have I don't even knowall these stitches behind my
(03:39):
ear.
My whole face is swollen, it'sall bruised, I mean it's and
today was the first day I triedto go out since surgery and
everybody stared at mehorrifically and it was a
challenge for me because I got acouple things at the store and
I'm unloading most of the cartand the cashier's like hey, how
you doing?
I couldn't hear where she saidbecause my ear's facing her and
(04:01):
I heard nothing.
And that was a real kick ofreality to me, because this is
now what I'm going to be living,with my family, my daughter and
my amazing husband.
They have gotten acclimated toit and so they always try to
talk to me on the right side,but when I was out a little
while ago, and they're trying totalk on my left, I mean talk to
me on my right side.
I was like what, and it washeart-wrenching moment when I
(04:24):
looked at my husband rightbefore they will be back, and I
said tell me you love me onemore time in my right ear, and I
meant it, and our daughter didthe same thing, and so it's a
challenge.
And what I don't understand,baby, can enlighten me is when
somebody tries to help otherpeople and all they want to do
is help other people.
Why is it that some people justcan't let you have that?
Speaker 1 (04:49):
I don't know, I don't understand why they have to put
you down because you're tryingto help.
You know.
It's just, you know, orwhatever you're helping them
with, it's not good enough,enough, right, right.
So in turn, they put you down.
Oh, is that it?
Is that all you got?
Is that all you can do?
(05:10):
You know, one of my customerstoday was asked by his daughter
to help his granddaughtercollege tuition and she only
wanted to borrow $45,000 for thewhole year.
And she said Dad, I need alittle help.
(05:30):
Well, his explanation was well,who's going to help me, right?
So y'all know, we run this show, we run this business.
Almost everything is out of ourpocket.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
You know there may be a time where you know we have
certain individuals you knowthrow a donation here and there.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
It goes back to the production of everything.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
It is not a steady income here.
We don't write ourselves apaycheck, we're not rolling the
dough, we don't drive fancy cars, you know.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
You know, we've been awarded the five Global Awards
in the last few months.
Right, and the thing is is thatall we wanted to do is help
other people.
We want them to not go throughthis alone, and healing
shouldn't come with a price tag.
It really shouldn't.
And my thing is is that, nomatter what you've ever been
through, if you've gone throughas much stuff as we have and we
(06:27):
are still not bitter people, westill go above and beyond to
help people who need it, then Idon't understand why other
people want to like rain on theparade right.
They just can't leave thingsalone.
They have to stir up crap.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
And we try to be what .
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Drama trauma free.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Well, that trauma part, we're trying to stay away
from it, but we almost went ayear without a surgery.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
About five months.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
But for those of y'all who kept my wife in
prayers, thank you.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
The surgery went well and it didn't take as long as
we thought because, they didn'thave to do certain things so we
took out that eardrum, we tookout these station tubes um, so I
literally have no hearing inthat ear.
And then they did it's calledtake down, stitch down or
something like that so you can'tgo to the doctor and have them
(07:23):
put the ear scope in your ear,um you can't put a q-tip in your
ear, not to your poster and itis stitched down so it kind of
looks like a belly button.
I guess is how the doctorsurgeon explained it.
So nothing can get in there.
And the next step is a cochlearimplant, but our insurance
doesn't cover it.
It's three hundred thousanddollars.
So for right now I would beusing a high end hearing aid on
(07:47):
my left try to enhance thesounds of everything.
But you know everything thatwe've gone through.
We have right to be absolutelybitter, as all get out and just
the nastiest of people.
But we're not, you know we'renot.
And that's not tooting our ownhorn, that's just, you know,
being a reality.
I want people to know thatthey're not alone in this.
(08:07):
I want people to know that theycan get out and survive this.
And it just seems like, youknow, the black sheep is the
most dangerous because that'swhy they're belittled, or, as we
both are the black sheepbelittled as we have been, and
really kept apart from oursiblings, the black sheep,
belittled as we have been andreally kept apart from our
siblings.
They tell them one story and thesiblings never hear our side.
(08:28):
It's sad, it really is sad,because narcissists can't take
responsibility for their ownaccountability.
They just can't do it.
It's not an option, nope.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
So that's enough about you.
Yes, let's see, we still haveour exciting academy.
Yes, to talk a lot on, to andtake a lot of the free courses.
A lot of y'all have joined andI failed to get with you and
(09:04):
welcome you into the community.
My apologies, welcome, welcome,welcome.
And if you have any thoughts,comments, you know.
Please drop us a line.
Uh, chat with us once you're in, let's see what else.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Faith did the cutest thing right before my surgery.
She I always give gifts to bothof them before I go back and I
wrote them letters and thingslike that.
Well, she was hard at workdoing something for me and
wouldn't tell me.
And she gave me these likebeautiful flowers.
They're purple and it's gotlittle pumpkins inside of the
(09:46):
glass jar and she said I wouldlove you till they die because
they're official, right, sosweet.
Then she gave me two key ringsand they were beautiful, that
that are representation of mygrandparents.
She made me a beautiful card.
Card was just excluded.
And then she gave me a bunch ofother things and she drew a
(10:09):
mickey mouse and then she did acover of the book and it was
just she's so smart, she's sosweet, until you cross her, and
then I'll have enough appear.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Oh yeah, I got a little bit of that unsweetness
today.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Because you were right before dinner.
You were like pushing thatbutton.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
So I love to to bring my daughter and whenever I
bring home you know 1300 bags ofgroceries, I like to put the
groceries any and everywhere andI will literally put them
anywhere, rearrange everything.
So you know, the can of ChefFlora may go in the refrigerator
(10:55):
, the pasta noodles may go up inthe pantry, you know just
different places.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
And I love to do this , you know, especially around
the coffee because she's bigabout keeping all her coffee
right in line and she may be alittle OCD, but you know we love
her and a little OCD insomewhere except you she just
went off on me tonight because Ireally trashed the kitchen it's
hilarious because you two arelike the broke year old, then
(11:23):
Like seriously, they'll come upand she'll be like, and you're
like peanut, and I mean it'sjust, they have a cutest thing.
You can't help but laugh.
Like she said to him.
He said something about well,you know, you really need to do
better at this.
And she's like if you don'tlike how I did it, then you need
to complain to the manufacturer.
That's not, yeah that was goodshe's so quick, she's so quick
(11:50):
with it.
I mean, you know, she's justamazing.
Oh, can we just say what shirt?
You wore to surgery because itwas hilarious like my husband
and I always have to laugh, youknow, to make things easier.
And so he wore this shirt thatsaid definitely, and the d-e-a-s
(12:11):
was in a different color and itsaid definitely, not listening,
and I thought okay, peopledon't find that funny right it's
hilarious.
It's like christmas.
I'm talking about gingerbreadmen with three limbs not four,
and my surgeon, who everybodysays you know I'm sure he's like
fabulous on the or he didn'teven chuckle like my other
(12:33):
surgeons would have like crackedup laughing, it would have been
hilarious, but he did he worethe shirt and for he stayed
awake for most of the surgery,which was very shocking because
my husband always sleeps duringmy surgeries.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
I did.
I was awake for this one.
Oh, our good buddy, josh,joshua.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Who has declared that my husband's pregnant Just
because I'm fat and hormonal?
I'm horm's because I'm fat andhormonal.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
I'm hormonal because I'm taking shots.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
My nipples are kind of sitting there.
Seriously, do that right now.
I'm bringing out my laundry.
I didn't hang up your laundry,I'm just.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
You brought Joshua up you brought Joshua up.
Well, our good buddy Joshua,yeah, uh.
What's his podcast called?
Oh, it's that guy.
That's right.
I'm a little tired, y'all.
I'm getting a lot of sleep.
I was up at 3 am this morningwith my wife.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
I feel bad, I can't sleep.
It's not your fault, babe.
I've been peeing like everyhour now.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
I'm installing your business.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
I pee, I peed, I peed , yes, every hour.
And here's the thing you can'troll on your right side because
you can't lay on your ear andthis contraction.
And you can't lay on your leftside because I'm amputated and I
can't lay that way.
And I can't lay on my left sidebecause I'm amputated and I
can't lay that way and I can'tlay on my back.
So I literally am not sleeping.
(14:07):
And I made a promise to myhusband that we always sleep
next to each other regardless,no matter what, and I won't
sleep downstairs, and so I'm up,up up, constantly, chewing as a
bitch and you know, just tryingto do one thing at a time.
So, no, he hasn't slept much,but you still haven't Give Josh
(14:27):
what he's reviewed.
No, I have not but let's goback.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
I want to say to the medical staff Out yonder, other
than that little Indian lady orwhatever she was, Asian.
Everybody else was fabulous.
Okay, I can't even remembertheir names.
Okay, I can't say their names,why not?
I remember one guy's nameBecause it was the same man as
(14:55):
coming to America, never mind,anyway, you know what I'm
talking about if you'relistening, buddy.
I appreciate you Because youtook great care of my wife all
the way through the entire timeto the very, very end.
You were just sweet and caring.
Your bedside manners wereexcellent, so I hope you are
(15:15):
listening to this podcast, youknow what I'm talking about.
Why can't I say his name?
Speaker 2 (15:20):
because you wouldn't want to do any definitions here.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Okay, we won't go there.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Isn't that cute?
Not yet.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
Bye-bye, we'll wait and then we'll clue you all in
on that story.
On another episode I don't know.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
We're still on air, maybe.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
So be sure to jump on a contagious smile website.
A contagious smile click thatdonation button.
Y'all send a little coffee thisway is it two S's or one?
Speaker 2 (15:51):
it's two S's hey, timmy boy, my puppy says good,
that is faith service dog Rusty,and he is the gentlest giant
you've ever met.
He's so doggone, sweet.
And then we have Stepo, my baby, and they have been so good
(16:12):
through this whole thing.
They haven't tried to come upto my face, nothing.
They see the bruises and thecontraption I'm wearing.
Normally they bark when theyhave to go out and they haven't.
I don't know if you noticedthat they they haven't barked at
all.
They just go to the door andlet me know they need to go.
Um, but they have been sofantastic and loving and sweet.
What are you up to?
(16:34):
What are you up to say hi?
Let me say hi, no, no, this isso sweet.
I want to take a moment in allseriousness, dave, and I need
you alert.
I want to take a moment and, onbehalf of myself and you and a
contagious smile, I want to givemy deepest condolences and
(16:55):
sympathy to erica kirk for theloss of her husband, um his
daughter he's a dog.
She has a daughter and a son.
That little girl lived withreese's dad so cute.
He was a huge family man.
He was talking about gunviolence and somebody asked him
how many trans were involved ingun violence.
(17:17):
And it did come out that thealleged shooter was living with
a trans.
They were living together in atrans relationship.
My heart broke.
I, if my husband will tell you,when I'm working during the day,
I have one of two peopleplaying in my background because
(17:38):
I'm listening while I'm working, and it's either judge judy,
because I think she's spitfireshe's hilarious or charlotte
kirk, like it's always one ofthe two, and I'm making.
Well, megan kelly yeah, I do, Ilisten to her, um, but lately
it's just been those two.
And so when I saw that, I meanI was like I took a break and I
(17:59):
was watching Charlie like handout hats and set up his tent and
, and you know, answer thequestions.
And here's the thing about it.
So many people I mean somepeople were like how could you
die?
And I don't understand how thisis a man who, 31 years old, and
would have an open mic and saylet's talk about it, no matter
(18:20):
what, you can come up and say tohim anything you wanted, Smart
as all, get out.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
That man was a genius and he would let you ask or
talk about whatever you want andhe would have an intellectual
conversation with you.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
He was so smart.
And then to have him taken awayand his wife and two kids were
right near there.
That's just horrible I mean, Ijust I know that people all over
the world are doing condolencesfor him, but we wanted to add
ours in as well, because, wow,like you just don't know.
(18:55):
He went in there my husband andI were talking and it was like
you know, that morning they gotup from being in bed together
and started their day and hadbreakfast as a family and then
got ready to go do this speech.
And they had no idea, he didn'tknow he picked up that mic that
you know the next five secondswere going to be in, and what's
really odd is they startedshowing clips where somebody
(19:17):
said if you had 30 seconds tolive because you were shot, what
would you do?
Like that's kind of ironicright, and this was not taken
the same day in utah, like someguy from somewhere else on their
tour asked him when they got upto the mic, you had 30 seconds
after just being shot what wouldyou do?
What would you say?
And it's just.
You know, the violence is everyflippant day.
(19:39):
I mean, schools are going intobomb threats and bomb scares.
Hospitals, children's hospitals, are also going under bomb
threats and bomb scares.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
I mean I swear, I've seen more cops getting shot.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Oh, they're everywhere.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
You know my wife and I were both in law enforcement
and I'm glad we got out okayit's.
You know some people say it's ayoung man's game.
But you know it's more of agame, it's a calling.
So my heart goes out to y'all,officers and military.
(20:16):
Y'all just be safe out there.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Absolutely, absolutely.
We wanted to make sure we putan episode out.
It's not up to par with what wenormally do.
Deer Silence is going to bethere for October.
We have a lot going on thatwe're trying to get going, just
(20:39):
trying to hold our head up andget through this.
You know the people who reachedout to me.
I can't thank you enough.
People who reached out to myhusband and our daughter is.
I can't thank you enoughBecause some people are like oh
they're having another surgery.
They've been that way withfaith.
Oh, it's another one, it doesn'tmatter if it's one or a hundred
, it's still surgery and it's abig deal.
(20:59):
And this one, they said, isradical and very invasive.
And you know, you think aboutlike a heart ablation doesn't
take less than 30, 40 minutesright, this one was hours, and
it's like you can go and getsomething on your heart but you
go to do something with your ear.
(21:21):
It's going to take a whole lotlonger and anytime you go in for
surgery it's scary.
So you know, I'm starting totry to get acclimated to it.
But it was eye-opening when Iwent to the store and I couldn't
hear them.
That was hard for me, and thenI was like what?
I can't hear you, what you know, and you have to get used to
(21:41):
that and it sucks, it sucks andI'm so glad that it's me and not
my husband or my daughter.
But then you wonder how thesepieces of shit that spend their
life beating and hurting women,children, animals get to walk
around scot-free.
I just I don't understand it.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
And for those of y'all who I have recently given
a card out to, if I have invitedyou onto our show, please
contact me, contact my wife, andwe'll get you on the show.
We need some new blood up inhere.
Well, let's not say new blood.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
And our daughter, we have to say, oh my God, she is
like.
I don't have a Mickey Mouseplant.
I forgot.
This girl is a like.
I'm sorry, I forgot she gave methe cutest Mickey Mouse plant
that girl every time we go tothe range.
It's hilarious.
She is center mass, she'shilarious.
(22:46):
Then she tried to get myattention and showed me that she
shot off his hoo-ha and she isa really good shot.
She's fantastic.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
She must get it for me, my side.
You really want to do that.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
Yes, you don't, no, you don't, no, you don't no, no.
Well, I know we're going to cutthis episode kind of short
tonight and I apologize, but wejust wanted to put a little
something out there my wife didnot speak.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
I sounded like froggy from Little Rascals.
Some people think that's sexy,though apparently one doctor did
, because he gave him somemedical advice.
Push the I don't know whateverit was.
Push the air through yourdiaphragm and release.
(23:47):
I don't know what he said.
He was these hilarious and, yes, I'll get to your dang review.
Stand, stand by it, don't holdyour breath.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
I'm still waiting on shelves.
It's been five years, shelves,yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Yeah, shelves all around me.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
And more.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
They're full.
They're what, full Full.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Great, because he was talking earlier a bunch of
nonsense, gibberish and I turnedmy head the other way I I said
say it again so I can hear you.
And I pointed to the right ear.
So you gotta have a little funwith it, right?
He's like that's not funny sowhat?
Speaker 1 (24:21):
what word did I just say?
Foil no, I said fool, fool.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
Did I say f-o-o-l or f-u-l-l?
Speaker 1 (24:34):
I don't know, f-u-l-l , f-u-l-l, fool, it's fool.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
You sound like you're saying fool.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
My stomach is full of shit.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
You just wore on, your crown thrown or whatever.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
I am acting the fool.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
See, it sounds just like it.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Exactly, but take it in context.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
Oh, can we even say, because this is funny and Faith
didn't think I'd say anything.
So we come home Friday night,can't sleep.
I'm up in the middle of thenight.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
I make muffins.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
I'm like I'm going to make banana muffins.
I do the dishes, I clean thekitchen.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
Right, Y'all this is right.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
after surgery and I'm all impacted.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
No pain meds, no Percocet, no Oxy's, no.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
Advil.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
Nothing.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
And how do you explain how bad the bruise on my
face is?
Speaker 1 (25:29):
On the back, like you got hit by a baseball bat.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
But and then the next night, saturday, couldn't sleep
.
So I go in again and I'mcleaning the kitchen and like
dusting he comes in in themiddle of the night.
I'm in the office working Lastnight.
Middle of the night he comes in.
I'm working at four in themorning.
I can't sleep.
It messes up your entire sleepschedule, it does.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Anyway, we thank y'all for listening and look out
for Dear Silence you Lost.
Come in here next month.
What else?
Get on the Academy?
You can get on there throughthe official website.
Check out some of the coursesyou can get on there through the
official website.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
A container spa A container spa.
Speaker 1 (26:18):
Check out some of the courses.
A lot of them, most of them,are free, but y'all join and
help, support us.
Buy a cup of coffee every nowand then.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
It's less than an actual cup of coffee at
Starbucks.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
We really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
We broke down what it cost us to keep running on all
the platforms we're running onand if people just donated $5
for a course, then we cancontinue to offer these for free
for people who need them thatdon't have the financial means
to get them.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Yes, so a very good night, a very good night.
I love you, baby.
This is getting more than PGokay, bye, bye no, no, no, thank
you for listening stuck it onRusty.
(27:12):
Victoria Michael wish you agood night.
Did you hear Rusty?
He went oh.
Howdy y'all.
Welcome to another episode ofContagious Smile Unstoppable
with the lovely and sexy andjust out of surgery.
Victoria, you're a publishedauthor of 43 books.
Now that's right, y'all.
She's written 43 booksone-handed.
Well, let me take that back.
(00:22):
She's written three books.
No, she's written a lot morethan that.
Anyway, she's here with herhusband, which makes her 100%.
(00:52):
Yeah, because of pieces ofshits out there that like to
beat on women, cowards, and yeah.
So, last thing, thanks to mywife.
So, no, thank you, dumbass toyou out there, the freaking
idiot who still gets to walkaround.
(01:13):
Yeah, I'm sorry, I'm a littlehot yes, you are whatever, my
wife uh may not sound as usualchipper herself because, like I
said, she's just out of surgery.
Uh, what is this monday?
So what friday?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
yes, I need two hours .
And then he thought, oh well,let's admit her.
Are you serious?
okay, all right, my husband wasobviously there, so check this
out, so we go in there for thesurgery and the anesthesiologist
comes in Okay, I've never hadthis team before and she's like
what are we doing today?
And I said we are making medeaf.
(01:52):
And she starts laughing and Iwas like, wait a minute, why is
that funny?
Like she kept laughing about it.
I was like, no, really, why isthis funny?
It's not funny.
And so when we get, I go back,I don't do versed I don't do any
of that stuff when I get backin vor I'm this coherent and
when I first got there.
I've had no medication, and soher fellow or resident was
(02:17):
helping to get me ready and Iwas like I seriously cannot
believe that she thought it wasfunny, the I was losing my
hearing, Because there's nothingreally funny about it.
And I said and then I wanted tosee if I could have them like
video me as to how long it takesme to go to sleep and she said
(02:38):
that's not real, all the.
TikToks are performers.
They're not real going to sleepbecause they can't do that
Anyway.
So I turn around and I ask theguy who's above me at that point
and I said that's just not nice.
And I was like, oh my god, she'shere, isn't she?
And she turns around, looks atme.
I was like, great, so I get outof surgery several hours and I
(03:00):
get into recovery.
And you have to realize thatI'm in this contraption that I
call a jock strap, becausethat's what it looks like.
Right over my ear, my ears, Ilook like a puffer fish, like
from hitch when he had theseafood and he's all like a
puffer fish.
And so they're like how youdoing, how?
Speaker 1 (03:17):
you doing?
I'm like oh.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
I always get nauseous after anesthetic always.
So what does she say?
Like she's trying to rush meout.
Like she's got a mailappointment and she's like, well
, we could just admit you intothe hospital, we'll just
transfer you and and be admitted.
Uh, no, no, no, no.
So now I have I don't even knowall these stitches behind my
(03:39):
ear.
My whole face is swollen, it'sall bruised, I mean it's and
today was the first day I triedto go out since surgery and
everybody stared at mehorrifically and it was a
challenge for me because I got acouple things at the store and
I'm unloading most of the cartand the cashier's like hey, how
you doing?
I couldn't hear where she saidbecause my ear's facing her and
(04:01):
I heard nothing.
And that was a real kick ofreality to me, because this is
now what I'm going to be living,with my family, my daughter and
my amazing husband.
They have gotten acclimated toit and so they always try to
talk to me on the right side,but when I was out a little
while ago, and they're trying totalk on my left, I mean talk to
me on my right side.
I was like what, and it washeart-wrenching moment when I
(04:24):
looked at my husband rightbefore they will be back, and I
said tell me you love me onemore time in my right ear, and I
meant it, and our daughter didthe same thing, and so it's a
challenge.
And what I don't understand,baby, can enlighten me is when
somebody tries to help otherpeople and all they want to do
is help other people.
Why is it that some people justcan't let you have that?
Speaker 1 (04:49):
I don't know, I don't understand why they have to put
you down because you're tryingto help.
You know.
It's just, you know, orwhatever you're helping them
with, it's not good enough,enough, right, right.
So in turn, they put you down.
Oh, is that it?
Is that all you got?
Is that all you can do?
(05:10):
You know, one of my customerstoday was asked by his daughter
to help his granddaughtercollege tuition and she only
wanted to borrow $45,000 for thewhole year.
And she said Dad, I need alittle help.
(05:30):
Well, his explanation was well,who's going to help me, right?
So y'all know, we run this show, we run this business.
Almost everything is out of ourpocket.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
You know there may be a time where you know we have
certain individuals you knowthrow a donation here and there.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
It goes back to the production of everything.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
It is not a steady income here.
We don't write ourselves apaycheck, we're not rolling the
dough, we don't drive fancy cars, you know.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
You know, we've been awarded the five Global Awards
in the last few months.
Right, and the thing is is thatall we wanted to do is help
other people.
We want them to not go throughthis alone, and healing
shouldn't come with a price tag.
It really shouldn't.
And my thing is is that, nomatter what you've ever been
through, if you've gone throughas much stuff as we have and we
(06:27):
are still not bitter people, westill go above and beyond to
help people who need it, then Idon't understand why other
people want to like rain on theparade right.
They just can't leave thingsalone.
They have to stir up crap.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
And we try to be what .
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Drama trauma free.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Well, that trauma part, we're trying to stay away
from it, but we almost went ayear without a surgery.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
About five months.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
But for those of y'all who kept my wife in
prayers, thank you.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
The surgery went well and it didn't take as long as
we thought because, they didn'thave to do certain things so we
took out that eardrum, we tookout these station tubes um, so I
literally have no hearing inthat ear.
And then they did it's calledtake down, stitch down or
something like that so you can'tgo to the doctor and have them
(07:23):
put the ear scope in your ear,um you can't put a q-tip in your
ear, not to your poster and itis stitched down so it kind of
looks like a belly button.
I guess is how the doctorsurgeon explained it.
So nothing can get in there.
And the next step is a cochlearimplant, but our insurance
doesn't cover it.
It's three hundred thousanddollars.
So for right now I would beusing a high end hearing aid on
(07:47):
my left try to enhance thesounds of everything.
But you know everything thatwe've gone through.
We have right to be absolutelybitter, as all get out and just
the nastiest of people.
But we're not, you know we'renot.
And that's not tooting our ownhorn, that's just, you know,
being a reality.
I want people to know thatthey're not alone in this.
(08:07):
I want people to know that theycan get out and survive this.
And it just seems like, youknow, the black sheep is the
most dangerous because that'swhy they're belittled, or, as we
both are the black sheepbelittled as we have been, and
really kept apart from oursiblings, the black sheep,
belittled as we have been andreally kept apart from our
siblings.
They tell them one story and thesiblings never hear our side.
(08:28):
It's sad, it really is sad,because narcissists can't take
responsibility for their ownaccountability.
They just can't do it.
It's not an option, nope.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
So that's enough about you.
Yes, let's see, we still haveour exciting academy.
Yes, to talk a lot on, to andtake a lot of the free courses.
A lot of y'all have joined andI failed to get with you and
(09:04):
welcome you into the community.
My apologies, welcome, welcome,welcome.
And if you have any thoughts,comments, you know.
Please drop us a line.
Uh, chat with us once you're in, let's see what else.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Faith did the cutest thing right before my surgery.
She I always give gifts to bothof them before I go back and I
wrote them letters and thingslike that.
Well, she was hard at workdoing something for me and
wouldn't tell me.
And she gave me these likebeautiful flowers.
They're purple and it's gotlittle pumpkins inside of the
(09:46):
glass jar and she said I wouldlove you till they die because
they're official, right, sosweet.
Then she gave me two key ringsand they were beautiful, that
that are representation of mygrandparents.
She made me a beautiful card.
Card was just excluded.
And then she gave me a bunch ofother things and she drew a
(10:09):
mickey mouse and then she did acover of the book and it was
just she's so smart, she's sosweet, until you cross her, and
then I'll have enough appear.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Oh yeah, I got a little bit of that unsweetness
today.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Because you were right before dinner.
You were like pushing thatbutton.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
So I love to to bring my daughter and whenever I
bring home you know 1300 bags ofgroceries, I like to put the
groceries any and everywhere andI will literally put them
anywhere, rearrange everything.
So you know, the can of ChefFlora may go in the refrigerator
(10:55):
, the pasta noodles may go up inthe pantry, you know just
different places.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
And I love to do this , you know, especially around
the coffee because she's bigabout keeping all her coffee
right in line and she may be alittle OCD, but you know we love
her and a little OCD insomewhere except you she just
went off on me tonight because Ireally trashed the kitchen it's
hilarious because you two arelike the broke year old, then
(11:23):
Like seriously, they'll come upand she'll be like, and you're
like peanut, and I mean it'sjust, they have a cutest thing.
You can't help but laugh.
Like she said to him.
He said something about well,you know, you really need to do
better at this.
And she's like if you don'tlike how I did it, then you need
to complain to the manufacturer.
That's not, yeah that was goodshe's so quick, she's so quick
(11:50):
with it.
I mean, you know, she's justamazing.
Oh, can we just say what shirt?
You wore to surgery because itwas hilarious like my husband
and I always have to laugh, youknow, to make things easier.
And so he wore this shirt thatsaid definitely, and the d-e-a-s
(12:11):
was in a different color and itsaid definitely, not listening,
and I thought okay, peopledon't find that funny right it's
hilarious.
It's like christmas.
I'm talking about gingerbreadmen with three limbs not four,
and my surgeon, who everybodysays you know I'm sure he's like
fabulous on the or he didn'teven chuckle like my other
(12:33):
surgeons would have like crackedup laughing, it would have been
hilarious, but he did he worethe shirt and for he stayed
awake for most of the surgery,which was very shocking because
my husband always sleeps duringmy surgeries.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
I did.
I was awake for this one.
Oh, our good buddy, josh,joshua.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Who has declared that my husband's pregnant Just
because I'm fat and hormonal?
I'm horm's because I'm fat andhormonal.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
I'm hormonal because I'm taking shots.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
My nipples are kind of sitting there.
Seriously, do that right now.
I'm bringing out my laundry.
I didn't hang up your laundry,I'm just.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
You brought Joshua up you brought Joshua up.
Well, our good buddy Joshua,yeah, uh.
What's his podcast called?
Oh, it's that guy.
That's right.
I'm a little tired, y'all.
I'm getting a lot of sleep.
I was up at 3 am this morningwith my wife.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
I feel bad, I can't sleep.
It's not your fault, babe.
I've been peeing like everyhour now.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
I'm installing your business.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
I pee, I peed, I peed , yes, every hour.
And here's the thing you can'troll on your right side because
you can't lay on your ear andthis contraction.
And you can't lay on your leftside because I'm amputated and I
can't lay that way.
And I can't lay on my left sidebecause I'm amputated and I
can't lay that way and I can'tlay on my back.
So I literally am not sleeping.
(14:07):
And I made a promise to myhusband that we always sleep
next to each other regardless,no matter what, and I won't
sleep downstairs, and so I'm up,up up, constantly, chewing as a
bitch and you know, just tryingto do one thing at a time.
So, no, he hasn't slept much,but you still haven't Give Josh
(14:27):
what he's reviewed.
No, I have not but let's goback.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
I want to say to the medical staff Out yonder, other
than that little Indian lady orwhatever she was, Asian.
Everybody else was fabulous.
Okay, I can't even remembertheir names.
Okay, I can't say their names,why not?
I remember one guy's nameBecause it was the same man as
(14:55):
coming to America, never mind,anyway, you know what I'm
talking about if you'relistening, buddy.
I appreciate you Because youtook great care of my wife all
the way through the entire timeto the very, very end.
You were just sweet and caring.
Your bedside manners wereexcellent, so I hope you are
(15:15):
listening to this podcast, youknow what I'm talking about.
Why can't I say his name?
Speaker 2 (15:20):
because you wouldn't want to do any definitions here.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Okay, we won't go there.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Isn't that cute?
Not yet.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
Bye-bye, we'll wait and then we'll clue you all in
on that story.
On another episode I don't know.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
We're still on air, maybe.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
So be sure to jump on a contagious smile website.
A contagious smile click thatdonation button.
Y'all send a little coffee thisway is it two S's or one?
Speaker 2 (15:51):
it's two S's hey, timmy boy, my puppy says good,
that is faith service dog Rusty,and he is the gentlest giant
you've ever met.
He's so doggone, sweet.
And then we have Stepo, my baby, and they have been so good
(16:12):
through this whole thing.
They haven't tried to come upto my face, nothing.
They see the bruises and thecontraption I'm wearing.
Normally they bark when theyhave to go out and they haven't.
I don't know if you noticedthat they they haven't barked at
all.
They just go to the door andlet me know they need to go.
Um, but they have been sofantastic and loving and sweet.
What are you up to?
(16:34):
What are you up to say hi?
Let me say hi, no, no, this isso sweet.
I want to take a moment in allseriousness, dave, and I need
you alert.
I want to take a moment and, onbehalf of myself and you and a
contagious smile, I want to givemy deepest condolences and
(16:55):
sympathy to erica kirk for theloss of her husband, um his
daughter he's a dog.
She has a daughter and a son.
That little girl lived withreese's dad so cute.
He was a huge family man.
He was talking about gunviolence and somebody asked him
how many trans were involved ingun violence.
(17:17):
And it did come out that thealleged shooter was living with
a trans.
They were living together in atrans relationship.
My heart broke.
I, if my husband will tell you,when I'm working during the day,
I have one of two peopleplaying in my background because
(17:38):
I'm listening while I'm working, and it's either judge judy,
because I think she's spitfireshe's hilarious or charlotte
kirk, like it's always one ofthe two, and I'm making.
Well, megan kelly yeah, I do, Ilisten to her, um, but lately
it's just been those two.
And so when I saw that, I meanI was like I took a break and I
(17:59):
was watching Charlie like handout hats and set up his tent and
, and you know, answer thequestions.
And here's the thing about it.
So many people I mean somepeople were like how could you
die?
And I don't understand how thisis a man who, 31 years old, and
would have an open mic and saylet's talk about it, no matter
(18:20):
what, you can come up and say tohim anything you wanted, Smart
as all, get out.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
That man was a genius and he would let you ask or
talk about whatever you want andhe would have an intellectual
conversation with you.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
He was so smart.
And then to have him taken awayand his wife and two kids were
right near there.
That's just horrible I mean, Ijust I know that people all over
the world are doing condolencesfor him, but we wanted to add
ours in as well, because, wow,like you just don't know.
(18:55):
He went in there my husband andI were talking and it was like
you know, that morning they gotup from being in bed together
and started their day and hadbreakfast as a family and then
got ready to go do this speech.
And they had no idea, he didn'tknow he picked up that mic that
you know the next five secondswere going to be in, and what's
really odd is they startedshowing clips where somebody
(19:17):
said if you had 30 seconds tolive because you were shot, what
would you do?
Like that's kind of ironicright, and this was not taken
the same day in utah, like someguy from somewhere else on their
tour asked him when they got upto the mic, you had 30 seconds
after just being shot what wouldyou do?
What would you say?
And it's just.
You know, the violence is everyflippant day.
(19:39):
I mean, schools are going intobomb threats and bomb scares.
Hospitals, children's hospitals, are also going under bomb
threats and bomb scares.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
I mean I swear, I've seen more cops getting shot.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Oh, they're everywhere.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
You know my wife and I were both in law enforcement
and I'm glad we got out okayit's.
You know some people say it's ayoung man's game.
But you know it's more of agame, it's a calling.
So my heart goes out to y'all,officers and military.
(20:16):
Y'all just be safe out there.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Absolutely, absolutely.
We wanted to make sure we putan episode out.
It's not up to par with what wenormally do.
Deer Silence is going to bethere for October.
We have a lot going on thatwe're trying to get going, just
(20:39):
trying to hold our head up andget through this.
You know the people who reachedout to me.
I can't thank you enough.
People who reached out to myhusband and our daughter is.
I can't thank you enoughBecause some people are like oh
they're having another surgery.
They've been that way withfaith.
Oh, it's another one, it doesn'tmatter if it's one or a hundred
, it's still surgery and it's abig deal.
(20:59):
And this one, they said, isradical and very invasive.
And you know, you think aboutlike a heart ablation doesn't
take less than 30, 40 minutesright, this one was hours, and
it's like you can go and getsomething on your heart but you
go to do something with your ear.
(21:21):
It's going to take a whole lotlonger and anytime you go in for
surgery it's scary.
So you know, I'm starting totry to get acclimated to it.
But it was eye-opening when Iwent to the store and I couldn't
hear them.
That was hard for me, and thenI was like what?
I can't hear you, what you know, and you have to get used to
(21:41):
that and it sucks, it sucks andI'm so glad that it's me and not
my husband or my daughter.
But then you wonder how thesepieces of shit that spend their
life beating and hurting women,children, animals get to walk
around scot-free.
I just I don't understand it.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
And for those of y'all who I have recently given
a card out to, if I have invitedyou onto our show, please
contact me, contact my wife, andwe'll get you on the show.
We need some new blood up inhere.
Well, let's not say new blood.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
And our daughter, we have to say, oh my God, she is
like.
I don't have a Mickey Mouseplant.
I forgot.
This girl is a like.
I'm sorry, I forgot she gave methe cutest Mickey Mouse plant
that girl every time we go tothe range.
It's hilarious.
She is center mass, she'shilarious.
(22:46):
Then she tried to get myattention and showed me that she
shot off his hoo-ha and she isa really good shot.
She's fantastic.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
She must get it for me, my side.
You really want to do that.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
Yes, you don't, no, you don't, no, you don't no, no.
Well, I know we're going to cutthis episode kind of short
tonight and I apologize, but wejust wanted to put a little
something out there my wife didnot speak.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
I sounded like froggy from Little Rascals.
Some people think that's sexy,though apparently one doctor did
, because he gave him somemedical advice.
Push the I don't know whateverit was.
Push the air through yourdiaphragm and release.
(23:47):
I don't know what he said.
He was these hilarious and, yes, I'll get to your dang review.
Stand, stand by it, don't holdyour breath.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
I'm still waiting on shelves.
It's been five years, shelves,yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Yeah, shelves all around me.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
And more.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
They're full.
They're what, full Full.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Great, because he was talking earlier a bunch of
nonsense, gibberish and I turnedmy head the other way I I said
say it again so I can hear you.
And I pointed to the right ear.
So you gotta have a little funwith it, right?
He's like that's not funny sowhat?
Speaker 1 (24:21):
what word did I just say?
Foil no, I said fool, fool.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
Did I say f-o-o-l or f-u-l-l?
Speaker 1 (24:34):
I don't know, f-u-l-l , f-u-l-l, fool, it's fool.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
You sound like you're saying fool.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
My stomach is full of shit.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
You just wore on, your crown thrown or whatever.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
I am acting the fool.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
See, it sounds just like it.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Exactly, but take it in context.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
Oh, can we even say, because this is funny and Faith
didn't think I'd say anything.
So we come home Friday night,can't sleep.
I'm up in the middle of thenight.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
I make muffins.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
I'm like I'm going to make banana muffins.
I do the dishes, I clean thekitchen.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
Right, Y'all this is right.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
after surgery and I'm all impacted.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
No pain meds, no Percocet, no Oxy's, no.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
Advil.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
Nothing.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
And how do you explain how bad the bruise on my
face is?
Speaker 1 (25:29):
On the back, like you got hit by a baseball bat.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
But and then the next night, saturday, couldn't sleep
.
So I go in again and I'mcleaning the kitchen and like
dusting he comes in in themiddle of the night.
I'm in the office working Lastnight.
Middle of the night he comes in.
I'm working at four in themorning.
I can't sleep.
It messes up your entire sleepschedule, it does.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Anyway, we thank y'all for listening and look out
for Dear Silence you Lost.
Come in here next month.
What else?
Get on the Academy?
You can get on there throughthe official website.
Check out some of the coursesyou can get on there through the
official website.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
A container spa A container spa.
Speaker 1 (26:18):
Check out some of the courses.
A lot of them, most of them,are free, but y'all join and
help, support us.
Buy a cup of coffee every nowand then.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
It's less than an actual cup of coffee at
Starbucks.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
We really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
We broke down what it cost us to keep running on all
the platforms we're running onand if people just donated $5
for a course, then we cancontinue to offer these for free
for people who need them thatdon't have the financial means
to get them.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Yes, so a very good night, a very good night.
I love you, baby.
This is getting more than PGokay, bye, bye no, no, no, thank
you for listening stuck it onRusty.
(27:12):
Victoria Michael wish you agood night.
Did you hear Rusty?
He went oh.
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I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
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