Feature Article: Born Almost Deaf, Karen Did Not Let Rubella Define Her

Editor’s note: Dr. Karen Sadler has a PhD in science education and a master’s degree in neuroscience. She is also deaf. As a result of a rubella infection her mom had while pregnant with her, Karen was born with limited ability to hear and eventually lost all hearing. We are grateful to Karen for sharing her story, and we hope she will inspire you as much as she has inspired us.

Her mom’s rubella infection during pregnancy robbed Karen of the simple joy of hearing birds sing or leaves rustle in the breeze. Yet, Karen considers herself lucky — lucky because she’s “only deaf.”

Rubella is a viral infection that is most dangerous when it occurs during pregnancy because often the unborn baby’s development is affected. Some babies die in utero, and those who survive, as Karen did, are often born with congenital abnormalities, including blindness, deafness, heart defects or mental deficits.

A vaccine didn’t come in time to save Karen from the effects of congenital rubella. The first rubella vaccine was licensed in 1969. Karen was born in 1956.

Recently, the Vaccine Education Center had the opportunity to talk with Karen about her life experiences.

Check out the interview in which Karen describes her childhood experiences and school years, including how she learned to listen to her sister’s piano music and the moment that made her mom cry.

Download a PDF version of this article.