Chance is famous!

Chance's picture is splashed across the front page of section B of the Tribune Newspaper today. The paper was writing an article about identifying hearing loss in children early, as a result of a panel discussion/press conference at the national press club in Washington D.C. yesterday. A reporter from the Salt Lake Tribune wanted to write an article about early detection of hearing loss in children. One of the talking points of the press release was that many babies/children who get a hearing loss diagnosis don't get the follow up care that they need to utilize the available options. The reporter wanted to talk to a family of a deaf child who did not get the services immediately. Someone from A.G. Bell called our house to talk to Chance's dad since he is currently president of the Utah A.G. Bell Chapter. They got me instead:) Since Chance wasn't your typical diagnosis, the reporter called and wanted to interview me. Then later a photographer came to our home and took some pictures of Chance. Chance showed his friends at school the paper. It isn't every day after all that one is in the newspaper.

The newspaper article was not just about Chance, but about kids getting the help they need when they are diagnosed with hearing loss. There are so many dedicated people working on helping these kids at both the national and state levels. I have been impressed with the work and energy that many of these professionals put into getting children with hearing loss the help that they need.

The work to help these kids and their families is so important. The technology is here to help these kids with hearing loss and deafness get what they need. I am grateful for opportunities like the newspaper article that high light the need for awareness of hearing loss which is the number one birth defect in America. I had no idea this was the case until I got into this world of deafness through Chance.

I have great hope for the future of children diagnosed with hearing loss and deafness. I have great hope and confidence that Chance will be successful with his implants and be able to live his life able to do anything that he wants to do. Chance was tested in school for the end of the school year. He is still 2 years behind in language, but that gap will close over time. Chance is thriving with his bilateral implants and amazes his teachers, professionals and his parents:) with his progress.

We are very grateful to all of those dedicated people who are working to help children with hearing loss. Many work behind the scenes and are never given acknowledgement as being an important part of getting deaf kids the help they need. But we know they are there and are more thankful for them than we can adequately express.