Media room
November 12 , 2008
Dedication to recovery and job earns award for Everett woman
Linda Parton overcomes obstacles to reclaim life and career
Everett, Wash. (November 12, 2008) – Linda Parton was in the process of establishing a numbering system for the raw materials used by the manufacturer where she worked in shipping and receiving when dizziness and a ringing in her ears took her off the job in June of 2007.
"The ringing actually sounded like screaming and I had lost my sense of balance. I had no idea what was happening to me," said Linda. "I thought I’d had a stroke before my health insurance company agreed to cover tests by an ENT."
The tests conducted by the otorhinolaryngologist, who specializes in disorders of the ears, nose and throat, revealed that Linda had an acoustic neuroma tumor. The condition occurs in about 1 in 100,000 people. In Linda’s case, the tumor grew on her balance nerve and impacted her hearing as well as her balance.
She underwent surgery to remove the tumor, followed by several months of physical therapy to help her regain her balance.
"When you lose your hearing and balance on one side of your body, it takes energy to know your spatial relationship, which we generally take for granted," Linda said. "Still, I was itching to go back to work. I was about 25 percent through the numbering system I’d been charged with developing and implementing when I became too ill to work and I don’t like to leave things undone. I inherited my work ethic from my dad and don’t do well sitting around."
She had to convince her physicians that she was ready to return to work and once she received the go-ahead, she started back part time for three hours a day. The company had hired another employee to perform the more physically demanding aspects of the job and wanted her to share her knowledge of the job and help train him. She eventually increased her hours to full time and was able to complete her numbering project by mid-December, for which she was grateful.
"My manager understood my abilities and was happy with the end result," Linda said.
Unfortunately, shortly after implementing the numbering system, Linda lost her job when the company laid off 11 percent of its workforce at Christmas. Undeterred, she began looking for new employment the following day and in January started a new job in shipping and receiving for a company that sells airplane kits for both general aviation and personal use. Her health continues to improve.
"Everyday my body gets a little better," she said. "Other parts take over what you’ve lost. I’ll never be 100 percent again, but I’m doing well."
In recognition of her determination to overcome her disability and return to work, Linda, 59, has been named a Perseverance Award winner by the WillReturn Council® of Assurant Employee Benefits. The Perseverance Award recognizes no more than 12 people annually for demonstrating proactivity, resilience, will power and conscientiousness in their recovery from a disabling illness or injury. Individuals are honored for their determination to overcome disabilities and get their lives back on track after an accident or injury changes their way of living.