New Year, New Outlook

We are just getting started on Brinley's journey...
Dec 2009 we got the diagnosis of profound bilateral hearing loss. English Terms: Brinley is deaf.

I'll be documenting Brinley's progress every step of the way. This will be my outlet in getting my thoughts on paper (well, computer) and maybe you will get something out of this too. You will learn what it means to be deaf, possibly be inspired to pick up a few sign language books or next time you see a child with hearing aids or Cochlear Implants you will know what it took for that child to get where he/she is today.

Modern technology is amazing!

"HARD DOES NOT MEAN IMPOSSIBLE"
Brinley Shay Reiswig


Sisterhood

Sisterhood

If we only knew then what we know now...

ALL SMILES WITH MY HEARING AIDS

ALL SMILES WITH MY HEARING AIDS

Mommy's Angel

Mommy's Angel

Upcoming Appointments

Jan 7th, Modesto

2:30pm Meeting with MCS/ SCOE Early Start Eval.


Jan 15th, Oakland
9:00am Speech Therapist Apt
10:00am Family Psycologist Apt
2:30pm First Audiologist Apt with Sara
3:30pm Meeting Dr. Murray, Implant Surgeon

Jan 29th, Oakland - Sedated CT Scan





Stanford here we come!


Feb 9th Meet Surgeon Dr. Blevins, get surgery date


Monday March 29th, 5 hr Surgery at Stanford

Activation 4/20 and 4/21

Follow up 5/17 and 5/18


Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Today's the day


True definition of Rockstar. 

Years of speech,traveling and assessments have all brought us to this day. With a happy heart today is Brinley's last day at the Deaf and Hard of Hearing preschool. 

When we made the move to Socal last summer she was attending 5 days a week. She made quick progress. Before we knew it she dropped to 3 days a week at DHH. We enrolled her in our local CDC Full-Time Preschool the other 2 days. It's always been extremely important to us that Brinley gets her role modeling from "like hearing peers." Putting her in this environment was scary at first not knowing how she was going to juggle going to two different schools who had two very different set of rules. 

She flourished.And adjusted.And was happy. 

At the start of the new 2013 school year went switched it up again, 2 days at DHH and 3 days in mainstreamed preschool. 

She flourished.And adjusted.And was happy. 

As parents we struggled with moving her from the DHH program, after all she's deaf. Her friends there either have cochlear implants or hearing aids so Brinley wouldn't be so different. It's safe. She felt safe.Or was it we felt safe as parents knowing she wouldn't be so different? 

My last visit to her DHH class left me with questions. Brinley had taken on a motherly role to the other children. Her language had surpassed her other classmates so she evolved into a helper for the smaller children. The classmates were using Brinley as a role model. Brinley WAS and IS different, even at DHH. What was a good fit a year ago isn't necessarily a good fit now. 

Last report card from Brin's mainstreamed class 

Brinley exceeded expectations in key areas:
Relationships with peers and adults
Seeing diversity in herself and others
Empathy 
Problem Solving
Social Development
Fine Motor Skills
Writing 
Spelling

Speech:
Above Satisfactory

Brinley is flourishing.And adjusting.And is happy. 
                                              
 This morning we walked to the bus stop for the last time.
 We live in a great new city 
with a school district that has far surpassed all our expectations
Her future looks bright!







2 comments:

  1. so wonderful! great to continue hearing about your journey from afar! xo

    ReplyDelete
  2. This brought tears to my eyes! I hope to post the same thing in about a year and a half.

    ReplyDelete