My name is Ellyn McCall. You can call me El. If you want. I'll answer to either one of those, or any variation of Honey, Mom, Mama, Mommy...what have you. I grew up in the midwest, after my marriage we transplanted ourselves to sunny Florida with no regrets. I'm not a fan of the cold.
I have five zany, silly, dramatic, beautiful, closely spaced children. My daughter Ava is 5 years old, then come the boys...the oldest, Jace is 4. Eli, the son who was lost to stillbirth during labor, would be turning three in March and the current baby of the house, Seth, is 18 months old. My daughter, Evany, was just born eight weeks early at the end of November.
Since I got married, my life has been anything but routine. As if having two babies in the house wasn't enough, our third child dying made my husband and me into very different people. Seth, our personal miracle baby, has gone a very long way toward healing our family's broken hearts. Seth was born prematurely, and during his NICU stay, he received antibiotics that caused him to lose his hearing. It was after he was diagnosed as profoundly deaf that I started this blog to record our experiences with deafness and his journey toward bilateral cochlear implants, which he received last April at 8 months of age.
I have been overwhelmed by the love and support everyone in our family has received. If it weren't for the community of people who read this blog, Seth would never have received his surgery when he did. Being able to witness the good in people through this blog has been an amazing blessing to me, and I have loved being able to form relationships with so many people who can relate to our family in some way.
Over time, this blog has become less about just Seth and more about daily life in our family, the things that make us us. In July, our lives got even more complicated when my husband and I separated just when I thought there was light at the end of the tunnel after everything we had been through, and I am once again struggling to give it all up to God and trust that he can bring beauty from the ashes.
Soon after my husband left, I was offered the opportunity to place ads on this blog, and after a lot of prayer and advice, I consented. It is one of the only tangible ways I can contribute to my household, and I greatly appreciate the support of the readers here in making that decision.
I strive to make our lives full...full of laughter and even tears, when they're needed, full of love and understanding, full of wit and joy even as we face hardships, and I love being able to share that here...the good, the bad, and everything in between.
24 comments:
I found your blog via Not Me Monday and I just wanted to leave another comment. Wow your words touched me in a way I can't describe. I have never experienced losing a child, but it is my worst fear. Your family is beautiful! I look forward to reading more of your posts.
Stopping through by way of Blog Stalkers Unite.
I loved this post. YOU are amazing and your children are so lucky to have you for a momma. Thank you for sharing!
WOW! What a great story. (not neccassarily the part about losing sweet Eli) but the faith you have. You have a beautiful family and I pray Seth will get the surgery and be able to hear one day.
Have you looked into Medicaid/medical assisstance to cover the remaining cost of the surgery. We did not pay a penny for E's surgery.
http://ellis-island.partialflow.com/
Jeannette
I love your blog, (here via McMamma). Your story is very touching, and I pray you all the best blessings God has in store for you.
As the mother of a hearing impaired child, I can understand the thoughts/emotions that you experience when learning your child cannot hear. My son failed his hearing screening at birth as well, but after numerous follow-ups were were told that his hearing "was sufficient for speech". He was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder at the age of 3, and we went on from there. Through the years, I never felt like he could hear...even though children with autism often ignore their name being called/ blare the television, etc. I went into speech-language pathology because my son was language impaired, so I learned more about audiology during my SLP program. When my son was 7, I took him to the speech and hearing clinic at the university I attended. I needed someone else to tell me that he could hear. Long story short, he couldn't. He had a severe hearing loss in one ear and a moderate/severe loss in the other. He needed to be aided bilaterally...and he had not been able to hear well from the time he was born. It turned out that he had a congenital hearing loss, Connexin 26...a genetic mutation that followed a recessive inheritance pattern. I had NO idea I was a carrier, and neither did his father. My heart broke to think of all those years that my baby couldn't hear...all those years we blamed soley on autism. I was mad too...that professionals we had worked with for so many years had dropped the ball and been so wrong! Today, my son wears bright blue hearing aids, is absolutely beautiful, and can speak in full sentences! I don't know if he will eventually lose all of his hearing, but I am thankful that we know to monitor him closely. Like you, I will do all that I can to help my child.
I recently had a little one (a patient) that I referred for a hearing evaluation. She had just turned two, and she was making little to no sound. She ended up being profoundly deaf, and had cochlear implant surgery just last Friday! She did SO well with the surgery. I saw her on Monday after the surgery, and she was walking and playing just as usual.
I know your son will do well with the surgery. You are so blessed to have discovered his hearing loss so early. Early intervention is critical; Seth is very lucky to have such a supportive family! I will definitely keep you on my prayer list. I can't wait to hear how well Seth does! Thanks for sharing your story.
This post really touched me, in many ways. Thank you for sharing such a heartbreaking, miraculous, and inspiring story!
Melissa :)
www.withasmile.wordpress.com
Yup, I'm here via McMama's blog, too. I added your button to my blog! I look forward to following Seth and your family in the days ahead, praying all the way. :o)
Here from McMama, too, and filled with tears. Your writing is beautiful. Thanks for sharing your story with us! I look forward to following. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers!
What a beautiful and personal story. As a former sign language interpreter turned SAHM, I know all the reasons not to "fix" a deaf person, but still my heart goes out to you and support you 100% in your decision for a cochlear implant. Whether your son is healed, given the gift of hearing through technology, or never hears a sound, I pray his story is one in which all can see God's mighty hand in his life!
I just want to give you a huge cyber hug. I cannot begin to tell you how many people's stories throught he wonderfl world of blogging have touched my heart and how often I have been awed, inspired and prompted to join the journey...thank you for sharing your beautiful son with us and allowing us to come along side you in payer and hope for his future!
just a side note I love this:
"But he is so cute!" Are most deaf babies ugly? Is there a large contingent of aesthetically unappealing deaf infants out there?
**Snickers**
xoxoxoxo
I will keep you in my prayers for your journey with little Seth!
Your little Eli touched my heart as well. A good friend of mine lost her grandson Joshua 10 years ago to stillbirth. As I walked that journey with her I learned the one gift I can give her(and her daughter) is to never forget Joshua. I make it a point to send a birthday card every year, just a small action to say...I remember Joshua...I will never forget.
I saw your button on another momblog I have been following, and was immediately in love with the name of your blog. I am praying for you and your family, as a Christian mom of four young sons, and two more who took a direct trip to be with our Lord. May your journey with all of your children be blessed! I also truly enjoy your choice of names ;) Blessings, Jenn (mom of Seth, Gabriel, Nathan & Eli)
Good Morning! I am here via Kayleigh's blog. I am a former sign language interpreter turned SAHM. Your story has touched my heart and brought me to tears. I have a HUGE place in my heart for Deaf children. They are such special and unique people! I will pray that Seth will surpass the doctors expectation for his hearing abilities. May God continue to bless you and your family!
Eli is beautiful! I am so sorry for your loss! Praying for you as well!
I found your blog through Trish at Fertile Hope. I have to tell you your story touched me for two reasons. First, because I also lost a child to stillbirth. Second, because I have a nephew who is deaf. He recieved his implant last year, and the results are amazing! He's just turning three now, and it's great to see how much his world has changed.
Wishing the same for you little Seth.
Happy Mothers Day!!! you are the
epitome of a wonderful, loving, inspireing, mom! Your faith is beutiful; it is gratifing to see and participate in your blog. I hope to help you in the future with Seths journey with his cochlear implant. I work in customer service at Advanced Bionics please let me know if you ever need anything from us. Best of love to you and your family!
I found your blog via MckMama and I just wanted to leave a comment. Your story is very touching. One because I can't imagine going through losing a child, that is any mother's worst fear. Secondly, my Granny was born deaf so I can only imagine having a child go through that. I'm so sorry for you loss, my prayers are with you & your family and I look forward to reading more of your posts.
I found your blog via MckMama and I just wanted to leave a comment. Your story is very touching. One because I can't imagine going through losing a child, that is any mother's worst fear. Secondly, my Granny was born deaf so I can only imagine having a child go through that. I'm so sorry for you loss, my prayers are with you & your family and I look forward to reading more of your posts.
You better believe I'm going to add your button to my blog! I think Seth's story is beautiful! When I was in college, I took ASL, and feel in love with signing and communicating with the hearing impaired. Sadly, I lost my "knack" after not using it in so long. That makes me sad. I think it's so beautiful to watch people signing. I have a friend whose daughter had the implants, and it is so neat to watch her discovering the world. The cutest thing is to hear her laugh, as she hears it from us. It is so precious to watch her excitement. I will pray so hard for you and add your button to spread the word! I look forward to following sweet Seth's story!
You are an amazing mom and an amazing family! So glad to have found your blog and read your inspiring story of faith and family.
I had to laugh when I read your response about deaf, ugly children. My son is hearing impaired and uses a BAHA (he has Microtia). Whenever someone new meets him they almost always comment on how cute he is or how smart he is...like they expected differently and are SHOCKED. I know you are going to do an amazing job with Seth.
Found your blog via baby bunching, and already had to add you to my favorites. Thank you for sharing your story and life so openly. You seem to be an amazing woman, and I look forward to reading more. Also, your family is in my prayers during your hard times.
Thank you for sharing your story, I found your blog through another blog. My son was born with a hearing loss as well, although he was not premature like your little guys he falls in a 3% group of unknown reasons as to why he can’t hear but I too can understand your journey. Good Luck with everything and once again thank you for sharing your journey.
maghan@babyshowersbymail.com if you ever want to talk.
I just came across your blog via another one I enjoy. I can only imagine how hard it is/was....and the joy of a new baby coming is great.
I have a sister who became deaf from spinal meningitis. She had a chochlear implant, but it didn't work. I am the oldest in my family, and became one of her main interpeters for a period of time. She is now married and has her 2nd son on the way. My Dad left our family when she was young....I think that it was hard for him, as for us, and he wasn't able to let God heal him....he's been missing off and on now for years. It wasn't easy, but God used it in so many ways, that I can say I'm grateful for all the has happened. We continue to pray that my sister who is deaf, will be healed, we've tried all we can to help. I remember going to speech therapy lessons with her/my mom and family every day for 6 days/week. I am adding your blog and am thinking of you and Eli today.
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