Emma Faye Rudkin’s life has been riddled with hardship.
At a young 3 years old, she was struck with a high fever and infection, resulting in deafness.
She had to learn how to speak and talk from scratch without the help of audible sound to guide her.
But there was no way that anything would stop her from pursuing her dreams and admiring the beauty in this world.
In an interview with Texas Country Reporter, Emma breaks into tears recalling her early struggles with deafness. She admits being depressed throughout most of her childhood, struggling to make friends and find happiness.
Emma remembers her first school year and swinging all by herself for hours at a time while other kids played with each other, smiles on their faces.
Fortunately, her parents have always been there for her.
“I remember I would come home crying every day and my momma would just say okay you’re allowed a pity party tonight. You can cry tonight but then tomorrow you’re gonna pick yourself back up and you’re gonna love people.”
Her parents have always been her biggest fans, always there for her in her darkest moments. To Emma’s benefit, they simply would not let her wallow in self-pity, pushing her to achieve greatness no matter the circumstances.
Emma learned early on that life’s not fair, but she wouldn’t let anything stand in her way.
Her life took a complete turn upon sitting down at a piano for the first time.
Although she had trouble hearing the sounds, she could feel the vibrations associated with each key’s frequency.
Fun fact: Beethoven eventually went deaf yet went on to write some of the most acclaimed musical compositions in human history.
Emma’s silence turned into beautiful music.
Even though Emma uses hearing aids now, everyday sounds that most take for granted have eluded her.
But she could feel the music. Her musical journey had just begun.
She quickly became a multi-instrumentalist, picking up the acoustic guitar next.
Her confidence continued to grow through the years, turning what some may consider a hindrance into a source of strength and power.
Emma eventually started competing in pageants, winning Miss San Antonio in 2015.
She became the first deaf person to achieve the honor.
Emma even showcases her incredible musical talents during the pageants, featuring her smooth voice and jangling acoustic.
Crowds look on in amazement, not because’s she’s deaf, but because she’s such a loveable, quality talent.
Plus, her attitude’s infectious.
She performs with grace and profound charisma. Many would be surprised to learn that she is deaf.
Successive pageant victories continued to open doors and new opportunities.
Emma then met Ryan Proudfoot, a talented singer-songwriter with a passion for life.
They hit things off instantly, forming a potent songwriting duo.
Through their combined ingenuity, they penned “Love Hears,” stressing unity and togetherness.
Ryan explains the message of the song as “the deaf and the hearing coming together in relationship.”
Emma’s music and lyricism come from deep within, tied to her unique struggles.
Emma certainly knows life’s hard. But even the hardships can’t break her. She’ll just work harder and get better.
Just take a look at her now.
Emma’s turned her silence into music, touching hearts everywhere.
Texas Country Reporter asserts, “She is singing for the entire deaf community.”
Her songs are not only pleasing to the ear, but they provide empowering messages to the deaf and anybody feeling trapped in their circumstances. She continues to spread positivity and inspiration through her organization, Aid the Silent.
So what are your thoughts on Emma’s incredible, inspiring journey? She’ll continue to overcome life’s obstacles, smiling in the face of hardship.
Be sure to check out Emma’s entire story in the video below!
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