Daalten DeMarsh '28 endured the wrath of bullies and the frustrations of a failed fifth sense. After everything he went through, he was left with one universal truth: Hearing is for Everyone.
DeMarsh grew up in the center of wonderfully deafening chaos. He's the baby of six kids, and the peacefulness of a quiet room was a lost commodity in their Warrensburg, N.Y. home. That's why no one seemed to notice when DeMarsh would grab the TV remote and turn up the volume on SpongeBob SquarePants. But as the years went on, he kept turning the TV louder... and louder...
Throughout his life, DeMarsh has had close to 80 ear infections, and each infection targets the protective layer around the ear drum. A few ear infections aren't a big deal, but 80? His protective layers were disintegrated, his ear drums doubled in size, and his natural hearing bones were rendered practically useless. By 12 years old, DeMarsh was legally deaf.
"I started wearing hearing aids in the 7th grade. At first, I hated them. I was grateful I could hear normally, but it was a fight to put them on each morning. Bullies would make jokes, and I struggled with that for a while. But then I decided, 'This is just a part of who I am.' It didn't bother me as much after that."
Once DeMarsh reframed his hearing aids as a gift, not a burden, he wanted to pass that gift on to any and all kids with a hearing disability. Hearing aids are expensive, and he was fortunate that his family could afford what he required. That's not reality for everyone.
"Everybody needs their hearing every day. It's a necessity and it should be a basic right, not a privilege."
When DeMarsh was 16, he had a series of surgeries that repaired his hearing. A prosthetic device was placed in his middle ears sending sound waves to the inner ear, effectively doing the job of the stapes (one of the tiny hearing bones). DeMarsh can now hear without the use of his hearing aids (which he plans to donate), but his crusade on behalf of the underserved hearing impaired has just begun.
After his first surgery, DeMarsh began working with Amplify New York (above, middle). He went to the Capitol and spoke in favor of legislation that would benefit the hearing impaired. He also founded Hearing is for Everyone.
"My doctor got me in touch with the head of philanthropy at Albany Med. I told them I wanted to raise money for people who need hearing aids but can't afford them. The first fundraiser I held at my high school raised over $1,000."
DeMarsh wants to continue raising money for his foundation as a Siena Bonner. In fact, that's the primary reason he chose to be a Saint. Siena is a place where helping others isn't extra-curricular; it's in the College's DNA.
"My family, all of them, we love to help people. Just seeing that on a daily basis growing up, it made me want to make the world a better place. If everyone could advocate for someone else, we could ease a lot of suffering in the world."
DeMarsh hated his hearing aids, at first, but purpose can be found in the struggle. Hearing is a basic right, but sometimes rights aren't truly appreciated until they're gone.
(DeMarsh attended Saints Camp this summer, above right, and called it "an amazing experience." He's hoping to work Saints Camp as a counselor next year.)