Way back, when Zack was born and we let our minds wander into his future… would he have a difficult life? Would he live with us after our other boys left home? Would he ever smile or laugh? Would we know if he loved us? One late night when Zack had come home after his first six weeks in the Critical Cardiac Care Unit at Sick Kids, we started to admit that Zack’s heart condition was only the start of the obstacles that would be in his life. We discussed the ‘what ifs’ and asked ourselves if we would prefer that he walk or talk? We both agreed that we could adapt to Zack not walking, but not talking with us??? That would be too much to bare.
Don’t take a simple smile for granted. We waited a very long 4 months for Zack to share his first smiles. It was so worth the wait. His smile and ‘walnut’ cheek is a smile that not only lights up a room, but lights up other people. I’m aware now that there are many parents who never see their child’s smile and I’m so thankful that Zack’s smile is infectious and that you only need to catch a glimpse of that delicious cheek, to know that he is happy.
Giggles are golden! It was an even longer wait until Zack giggled or laughed out loud. I can remember filling out an assessment chart to see where Zack was in his development. Our therapist asked if he giggles and I looked puzzled. She said…”of course he does”! I hadn’t recognized his little squeals of enjoyment as his “giggles” but we both were thrilled that he earned a check mark that day. Today, he squeals when Jayden leaves the bedroom door open and that means that Zack can bum-scoot out after him to freedom. His giggles can be heard as he speeds away on his car down the sidewalk and makes us run after him while he tries to make his get away.
There is no denying that Zack loves us.
When Zack loves you, it’s so clear… no words needed to tell us, just his sweet hands to hold our faces as he brings us down to his face for a kiss. More than words, these actions of affection are for a precious few in his life… his brothers, his mommy and daddy, his nana and the members of his incredible Dream Team. I get caught up in these moments between me and my youngest son as we look at each other and exchange all the love we have in our hearts for one another.
With a hearing loss as severe as Zack’s, it was expected that there would be speech delays. We knew that and we have been patient believing that it would come. The minute Zack’s hearing loss was diagnosed, I went into Warrior Mommy mode and called everyone we knew to get the resources that he would need. We connected with a wonderful home teacher from the E.C. Drury School for the Deaf and we have had amazingly talented women working with Zack during weekly Auditory Verbal Therapy (A.V.T, the ‘learning to listen’ therapy that precedes Speech Therapy).
I can’t imagine if we had not requested an infant hearing test while he was in Critical Care (this routine test was overlooked due to his heart condition).
I can’t imagine if we had not pushed to get all the testing done at 5 months and hearing aids at 6 months.
The main focus in our house these days is ‘total communication’. Sign language classes through My Smart Hands, pictures as aids and lots of talking to Zack are all the tools to help him find his way to communicate with us.
‘Dada’ and ‘Mumumum’ are the sweetest sounds ever to be heard in our house! Zack has been saying ‘dada’ for a long time now, but with very little progress to other consonants. While he mimics our intonation often, he doesn’t use typical speech sounds. The week before Mother’s Day, my sweet Zack said ‘mumum’. Paul and I looked at each other to make sure we were hearing the same thing. We heard it more and more that weekend and now I firmly believe that he says it when he is looking for me or needs me!
I’m also not naive anymore. I’ve been in the special needs community long enough to know wonderful mommies who have not heard those words yet… and I feel so fortunate to have had my heart filled with the sounds my son has created just for me.
Sherry C
June 7, 2010 at 2:43 pm (15 years ago)Mumum and used when he needs you music to your ears. He is doing so great I’m always so impressed by your little guy. Yet another beautiful post by Mumum. Keep them coming.
C
August 7, 2010 at 11:06 am (14 years ago)Beautiful post. Oh, and your children are so beautiful too! 🙂 I just found your blog (followed you over from Twitter – thanks for the follow, btw!). So glad I followed you over here. Wonderful blog. xo