Thursday, September 6, 2012

Deaf Like Me

I took sweet Pia for her obligatory Auditory Brain-stem Response test yesterday morning.

Before the test, I had an inkling of how it might turn out....I'd been thinking, off and on, since the morning she was born, "I don't know if she hears me."

It was the way she didn't seem to smile at me or coo at me, or respond to my voice coupled with a dull anxiety that "something is not quite right." The same things I felt about Gianna, and opposite of my experience with Dominic.

I wasn't that shocked, then, when the audioligist said, "I'm sorry to tell you....she's not responding." It's funny, what goes through your head in a moment like that.
I thought I only had one more year of driving to Loveland everyday.
How will I tell Brad? He didn't suspect at all...I should have prepared him better.
Dangit. Probably not getting a Suburban...gas mileage is a biotch.
I can't wait to tell Gianna. She is going to be so excited.

It was a day of many emotions. I look at Gianna now and see how happy she is, and how well she is doing, and I don't feel afraid. But then I remember how much work was involved to get here....the appointments and paper work and surgery and researching and worry. Some of that will be different this time, because we've already been in this place. But a lot will be new. I've never had an infant with hearing aids, I've never walked this journey from the beginning; Gianna was 14 months old when she was officially diagnosed with a profound hearing loss.

For the moment we are soaking it all in and dusting off our ASL. I feel very strongly that I want to communicate right now with Pia and I don't want to wait until we get amplification straightened out. When I picked G up from school I gave her the news and her face lit up. "Really?? REALLY??? Deaf like me??!! I will show her how to go to my school, will she get implants like me?"

Gianna was the person I wanted to share the news with the most; I knew the only reaction I would get from her would be unmitigated joy. She doesn't see herself as having a disability. Her Deafness is a fact to her in the same way she would say, "I am a girl. I am in kindergarten." It is not a negative. And it's with that spirit that I'd like to state, "Pia Catherine is a girl. She is 7 weeks old. She is Deaf."

This morning, Gianna was laying on my bed with Pia and Brad walked in to see Gianna with her magnets pulled off, signing happily. Brad asked her if she took her ears off on purpose and Gianna smiled shyly and explained,"Yes....so we can be the same."


19 comments:

  1. What a beautiful gift. Thanks for sharing. Selfishly I needed the heartwearming story of love today. And what a unique opportunity for G to be the big sister here. They will have such a special connection. Thank you.

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  2. Oh, Anne, this brought tears to my eyes - happy ones.

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  3. Oh man. You need a Kleenex alert at the start of this. Your Gianna has a heart of gold.

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  4. Gianna is going to be a wonderful big sister and a great mentor for Pia! I have two children, both with hearing loss and we are just starting our journey. I look forward to following your blog.

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  5. Thanks for sharing, Anne...Beautiful sisters, Beautiful family.

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  6. Oh my! That is beautiful! I want an open heart like Gianna! To be like a child.....as we are called to be.

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  7. wow. so moving. What a perfect big sister

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  8. "Yes....so we can be the same."

    Wow. That is... just wow. What a blessing your girls will be to each other their whole lives. They are so lucky to have someone in their family who "gets" them. This is one of those things that I love about children - before they learn to be ashamed of what makes them different, they just see "disabilities" as facts of life. If only us grown ups could do that.

    (Here via Camp Patton, BTW.)

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  9. LOVE G's reaction--couldn't ask for better. Sending many prayers your way this season (cuz I'm going crazy with only two--you're miraculous with 3!) and will also be praying for increased wisdom, miraculous sibling unity, and strength for you and Brad. Keep the posts coming--they are often the highlight of my day!

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  10. gianna is amazing. i'm glad that this is blessing her even if the whole process is hard to deal with.

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  11. How beautiful. <3 You are such an inspiration.

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  12. Dear Anne,
    Brave mom... I took the liberty of sharing your post on my blog.THankyou...God bless!
    http://hiddensoulja.blogspot.in/2012/09/teary-eyed-i-share.html

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  13. Thank you for sharing this, Anne- so beautiful and inspiring.

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  14. Came over here from Conversion Diary... and now I'm all choked up. How lucky for both sisters to have someone to understand her!

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  15. I have watched your little family grow from across the aisle at church and have always thought "how beautiful this family is." Now I say that with a more profound understanding.

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  16. Anne..What a wonderful daughter you have. She will be such a great big sister to Pia. We could learn a lot from our little ones. They love so unconditionally. My thoughts are with you. Hoping Pia is as successful as Gianna has been.

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  17. I loved this . . . we are adopting a little girl with hearing loss, and won't know the extent of it until after we travel to meet her next year. Gianna is going to be my inspiration!

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  18. Oh my goodness, my heart leapt when I saw the link to this post on Conversion Diary. A year ago this month we found out our oldest son (at the time one month shy of 4) had severe to profound hearing loss. (His was progressive - thus the late diagnosis). The last year has been a journey to say the least...we have had another baby, battled my husband's employer to chose a health plan that covers CI (they are self funded and were not legally required to do so), learned a lot of ASL (but still so much to go!) and eventually got a CI (Cochlear America Nucleus 5)!!! He was activated almost 6 months ago now and I can't even explain the difference in him... Well, you understand I'm Sure!!! It is a tough thing to hear, especially the first time becuase if you were anything like us, we were clueless. No history of hearing loss in either family. We were stunned and overwhelmed. And as you said lots of decisions to make - for someone else. I can't wait to explore your blog more. I feel a sisterhood with you. :) Thank you for sharing your story. I know the months ahead will be challenging, we will be praying for you! But what an amazing thing to have a sibling to share their experiences with. So far Luke is our only child w hearing loss (we have 3 boys under 5). I'm babbling...i'm sorry. Just always feels so good to know you are not alone and someone can understand your world. You can check us out at www.vanbreefamily.blogspot.com. God bless you and your family!

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  19. Wow. What a dear big sister. Truly incredible. I've been clicking around your blog and loving your stories and your style. (I was here once before maybe when Grace linked to Pia's birth story..?) Anyhow. Thanks for sharing!

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