The Gift of Hearing.....
Which some of us take for granted! Next time you're in a public setting, at the pool, at the Beach, at the Grocery Store, or at a Restaurant. Plug your ears and look around you....that is the closest feeling you'll get to being deaf.
I have tried that at times, just to put myself in my daughters foot steps, to comprehend what it would be like, and what she has gone through.
I know that she doesn't know any different, but I can't imagine not being able to hear music to dance to, my parents teaching me, my sister's voice, and laughter. My Grandparent's telling me they Love me, the sound of birds chirping, the wind blowing through the trees, the sound of the telephone ringing, the door bell to company, and our dog (Marley) barking.
Today was Jillian's activation date. To her the most scariest day and amazing day of her life.
It started with her doctor's tuning the implant, to her it was beeping sounds. Like you and I can imagine when we get our hearing tested.
Her reaction was a little scared and crying but for the most part she was still, curious and a bit confused.
The Audiologist then said "we are going to turn the implant on so she can hear our voices." I said a quick prayer , and Thanked God but was scared of how she was going to react.
She started crying immediately, and looked puzzled. After a few minutes went by we took her out of her surroundings. We walked outside of the Hospital and introduced her to noises and sounds that she had never heard or been accustom to.
The sound of a lawn mower, a industrial truck passing, the sound of a horn honking, and walking into a bathroom and turning on the faucet to running water.
Her expressions were irreplaceable!
She was a champion through it all, not crying , just her facial expressions and head turning was enough to know that she was interested and could hear.
Which some of us take for granted! Next time you're in a public setting, at the pool, at the Beach, at the Grocery Store, or at a Restaurant. Plug your ears and look around you....that is the closest feeling you'll get to being deaf.
I have tried that at times, just to put myself in my daughters foot steps, to comprehend what it would be like, and what she has gone through.
I know that she doesn't know any different, but I can't imagine not being able to hear music to dance to, my parents teaching me, my sister's voice, and laughter. My Grandparent's telling me they Love me, the sound of birds chirping, the wind blowing through the trees, the sound of the telephone ringing, the door bell to company, and our dog (Marley) barking.
Today was Jillian's activation date. To her the most scariest day and amazing day of her life.
It started with her doctor's tuning the implant, to her it was beeping sounds. Like you and I can imagine when we get our hearing tested.
Her reaction was a little scared and crying but for the most part she was still, curious and a bit confused.
The Audiologist then said "we are going to turn the implant on so she can hear our voices." I said a quick prayer , and Thanked God but was scared of how she was going to react.
She started crying immediately, and looked puzzled. After a few minutes went by we took her out of her surroundings. We walked outside of the Hospital and introduced her to noises and sounds that she had never heard or been accustom to.
The sound of a lawn mower, a industrial truck passing, the sound of a horn honking, and walking into a bathroom and turning on the faucet to running water.
Her expressions were irreplaceable!
She was a champion through it all, not crying , just her facial expressions and head turning was enough to know that she was interested and could hear.
At times we weren't sure if it was vibrations or just observation, but of course we were optimistic and viewed it as success.
After the appointment went back home and put her down for her afternoon nap.
This was the MOST AMAZING part of the day, three hours later she woke up, and Dad went up stairs to get her. He proceeded down the steps with her head turned the opposite direction of me, and I said "GOOD MORNING JILLIAN" ...her head turned so fast towards my direction with a puzzled look on her face and John and I just smiled at each other and said " did you see that?" That to me was the most exciting, memorable moment in my 31 years besides giving both my girls their first kiss at birth!
I will never forget, nor ever have an experience like that again!
Later that night I opened one of her Christmas gifts given to her from her cousin's it was a electronic keyboard. I had kept it hidden from of course her bigger sister (Isabelle) knowing her desire to open and play with it but this was Jillian's gift for when she would be able to hear.
I unwrapped it and turned it on, I pressed a button that would continuously play a beat and Jillian started laughing and dancing to it! Again, just an amazing moment!
I can only describe this experience as if I'm a child that received a new toy for Christmas and can't wait to play with it! When I'm at work, I can't wait to get home to both my girls to interact with them. But now my youngest daughter can hear things she has never heard before. I'm introducing her to things by sound and words that she has never been able to comprehend. It's as if she is new born and I'm explaining to her what everything is for the first time, except that she is smart enough to put two and two together. Everything she eats, feels, smells and sees is now introduced to her in words. It is honestly incredible!
It is truly so important for a deaf person to be implanted as soon and young as possible because if enough years go by it's only harder for them to adjust and understand.
I'm not saying that an implant won't do justis for an adult but you have to think about a child is like a "sponge" their first three years are crucial to what they see, hear and learn.
Thank you for all of your prayers!
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