~"When
I reflect on the first months after the diagnosis of my
two-year-old daughter who was identified with a moderate
to severe hearing loss, my fears concerning her would go
from one minute worrying about whether she would learn how
to speak, to the next moment worrying whether she would
be invited to the prom (sixteen years from then).
Over the years, many of my fears have
been resolved. The foundation for resolution of fear mainly
comes from the acquisition of knowledge, information, and
building confidence in our ability to make the best possible
decisions. Also, hope for our daughter's future came as
we were able to meet deaf and hard of hearing adults who
were leading normal healthy lives…Meeting a man, profoundly
deaf, who uses ASL, has a degree from college, a wife and
kids…Spending time with a woman who has a severe hearing
loss, teaches in public schools and has beautiful speech…
As time goes by, you realize that the hearing loss is not
the main thing that will define your child.
Of course there are still fears that
arise for me about our daughter. I think parents always
have fears for their children. It's just whether you decide
to be consumed or driven by them. Yes, there will be some
limits and challenges that she will have to overcome in
her life, be we are also confident that she will grow up
to be a happy, healthy contributing member of society."
~"When
I reflect on the first months after the diagnosis of my
two-year-old daughter who was identified with a moderate
to severe hearing loss, my fears concerning her would go
from one minute worrying about whether she would learn how
to speak, to the next moment worrying whether she would
be invited to the prom (sixteen years from then).
