We were a little like wanderers in a confusing universe. Our universe consisted of having an almost 3 year old diagnosed as being deaf and now we were trying to figure out what to do about it.
What tests did he need to determine the cause?
What doctor should we be seeing next?
How much was Chance hearing with his hearing aids anyway?
And perhaps the question that was topmost in our minds:"What was the best thing for Chance and what should we be doing about that?"
We ambled over to the pavilion and watched strangers with children with hearing loss. We were actually more interested in the children with hearing loss than with their parents at the moment.
Were the deaf kids really hearing?
Could they understand what was said to them?
Did they look happy?
How were the older ones, like 11, 12, and teen-agers? Were they talking? Could you understand them when they talked? What were they doing in school? Did they need all kinds of special help when they got to be that age? Were they integrated with their peers and not left out of everything?
Last night, 8 years after that first ice cream social in the park, Chance was the one being watched by parents with young children and babies with hearing loss. I introduced myself to a few parents and after briefing each other on our children's hearing loss situation, they would want to know where Chance was.
I would find him playing football, playing in the jumpy house or just goofing around with friends and call him over.
I would show him the little baby with teeny hearing aids and he would think they were cute. Then the parents would ask Chance a few questions:
How old was he?
What grade in school?
Did he like his implants?
He would smile and nod his sun-bleached head as he answered their questions.
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| Chance on recent campout with his Dad and brother |
The journey was not always easy and there were a lot of things we just didn't know. Our journey was a little different because Chance was diagnosed later and therefore we were playing catch up and none of the professionals dared to give us too much hope since no one had any idea what Chance would be able to do. It had not been established if the hearing loss was progressive. We did not know if there were other medical issues that accompanied the deafness. Chance had a lot of make-up time in language. He was well behind his peers his age and he had had no hearing input or any other language input for two years. No one quite knew what would happen with Chance.
Miracles occurred, that is what happened. Bonafide God-given miracles. Lots of prayer, years of effort, hard work, frustration, the unknown and never giving up have come to fruition. The results are in and the scores are awesome!
The possibilities for these deaf and hard of hearing children are amazing.
I hope some of those parents left the ice cream social a little more confident in their ability to carry on and realizing that the future for their deaf and hard of hearing children is bright. They will be able to do what ever they set their minds to. And those wonderful parents are just the ones to help their children on this incredible journey!~
2 comments:
This is why I always come here to read what you have to share. Chance has given us so much hope!
Tayten started mainstream K a few weeks ago and he's right on target, if not ahead in some areas. We've all worked hard to get here, him mostly, and we know we have a lot of work in the future, but reading about all that Chance has accomplished definitely eases the fear! So - thanks for sharing him with us!! He's an amazing kiddo!
How awesome to be in a position to "pay it forward" now. Chance is definitely an excellent example and model of all that is possible! You guys as his parents though, are a huge part of him being in this position, with all your years of hard work! You're all AWESOME! :)
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