At Random: Karen Hogan-Gordon

By Malynda Fulton

October 12, 2008 11:34 pm

— “A bend in the road is not the end of the road... unless you fail to make the turn.” — author unknown

Karen Hogan-Gordon is living proof that this adage holds true in life. A woman who has faced several obstacles, Gordon has learned to cope with them all and devote her life to inspiring others and making each day worthwhile. Here is her story:
Formerly Karen Hogan, Gordon was born and raised in Valdosta by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. David Hogan. She has one sibling, Rick, who now lives in Orlando, Fla.
Gordon was educated in Valdosta City Schools and graduated from Valdosta High School. In 1979, she married David Gordon, with whom she now shares two sons, Derek, 26, and Ryan, 24.
Gordon’s previous occupations include working as a domestic violence assessor for The Haven and Department of Family and Children Services, where she served six counties, and being an administrator for Advanced Hearing Care.
Gordon was deemed profoundly deaf more than 10 years ago, but failed to let her impairment disable her. After learning to cope with the loss of her hearing, Gordon was diagnosed with lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys and nervous system, in 2000.
A year later, Gordon received her first cochlear implant to regain her hearing at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla.
“That day, I was given new opportunities that were not available to me as a non-hearing person,” Gordon said. “I could once again hear the things we take for granted each day like the refrigerator running and birds chirping. All of the things people become immune to hearing are fascinating to me. I no longer have to remember sounds. What a blessing it is to be able to hear and understand, even in a noisy environment.”
With her lupus under control through treatment as well as the ability to hear, Gordon sought to expand her involvement in the community. She began to market for Family Health Care with local physicians and hospitals.
“A really close friend of my mine was diagnosed with breast cancer, so I began to do research on breast cancer as well. I started to work with the American Cancer Society and felt the need to start a ministry.”
Gordon took an interest in breast prosthesis for breast cancer patients who lost one or both breasts during mastectomies. In 2004, she became a registered fitter for mastectomy and American Board Certified in orthotics and prosthetics. This year, she was able to open A Fitting Place, where she sells custom breast forms for breast cancer patients and survivors.
“Dealing with the loss of my hearing, I can relate to the many women who have lost a part of them,” Gordon said.
Gordon is also a part of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce and teaches the new members class at Hahira First Baptist Church, where her husband has been a pastor for 14 years.
“As a Lowndes County native, it is great to serve the place I was raised in so many capacities. My mission is to give people what they deserve, a chance to be heard and cared for. My motto is to treat people as you would want to be treated and to do everything unto the Lord.”
Gordon said that she appreciates everyday regardless of the challenges they may bring.
“My day is much like everyone else’s, but I have to focus much harder and it can be very tiring to hear,” she said. “I wear my cochlear implant from the time I wake up until I go to bed because I cannot hear a thing without it. The lupus makes me very tired and the meds are sometimes worse than the disease itself.”
She added, “ The hardest part about being deaf and having lupus is that I look normal to everyone else. Deafness is not visible to others so people assume you hear and often think you are rude if you ask them to repeat things. They may also think you’re ignoring them if you don’t respond to a comment because you didn’t hear it. Since the lupus attacks my major organs, it causes a wide range of medical problems for me. The treatments are toxic and there is no cure for the disease at this time. More awareness of lupus is crucial!”
Gordon said that in spite of her difficulties, “I have never considered letting lupus or being deaf hold me back from fulfilling the purpose God has set for my life.”
Gordon finds happiness in operating A Fitting Place and spending time with her husband, two children, a daughter-in-law and one grandson.
She added that she has a wonderful church family.
Gordon has had several accomplishments, which include being voted Deaf Person of the Year by Quota Club International in 1997. She said her main goal in life is to help others.
“It keeps my mind off my own difficulties and helps me focus more on others. Every day I feel so blessed to wake up and be able to go to work that I don’t take even the smallest things for granted. The wonderful people in my life, my family, friends and co-workers inspire me to be the very best I can.”

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