And the winner of the Cupcakes for Izzy raffle is...

Hearing aid update...

Izzy received her hearing aids on December 10th thanks to the many people who so graciously made donations to our Help Izzy Hear fund.  While she didn't give us any sort of amazing reaction like you see on some videos that circulate social media outlets, she did let me know she was hearing something.  Throughout the rest of the day, I noticed a considerable difference in her responses to me.  No more turn it up in the car, no more yelling at her with her back to me, etc.  Since that day, we have continued to notice a remarkable improvement in her ability to communicate.  She hears us so much better, and we are hearing her enunciate more sounds in her words.  Obviously, her speech is still a concern for us, but with her speech therapy at school, we are confident we will see even more improvements much quicker now.

Unfortunately, two days after we got the aids, Izzy came down with a double ear infection.  Several days after that, the ear infection was still there and she was diagnosed with the flu.  As you can guess, sickness, especially when fluid is on her ear drums, still inhibits Izzy's hearing.  Again, though, we still have witnessed major improvements.

Randy and I can't thank you enough for helping us take care of our girl's needs.  We have been truly blessed.



Here is a quick video from the doctor's office.  The doctor was explaining to me how the batteries work and how to place the aids in Izzy's ears.  Towards the end, you'll see Izzy's eyes show her reaction to hearing noise through her aids for the first time.   Plus, you'll get a pretty good look at what $4,000 looks like.  :)

Here are some images of Izzy showing off her new accessories:

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So close!

We have received some crazy donations in just a couple of days, and I have been overwhelmed by the love and support we have received from our friends & family, strangers, colleagues, and students (current and former).  Today, I received the sweetest note from Elizabethton's TCAT Nursing Program's Honor Society.  While I originally thought the entire donation was from a group of strangers, of course, in the letter, I was informed that a former student shared our story with her classmates.  :)  I'm so glad that my job allows me to make connections with so many people.  It's easy to forget about some of these connections, but through this experience, I've been reminded that distance, time, and circumstance won't stand in the way of a heartfelt gesture.

And here we are.  Only $85 away from our goal of $4000.  WoW!  I cannot thank everyone enough!  While we have had several fundraising activities other than the GoFundMe page, I have entered everyone's donation on that site.  If you're interested in seeing who else has supported Izzy's cause, take a look.  Thank you all for your generosity!  

We aren't finished with our fundraisers just yet.  My colleagues have planned a silent auction at HHS's first home game on Saturday, December 6th.  Also, my sister is still taking $20 donations for the Cupcakes for Izzy raffle.  Because Izzy's need will be an ongoing expense, any additional funds raised over the $4000 goal will be added to her fund to continue paying for additional molds, future audiologist appointments, and any other cost associated with her hearing.  We have an appointment in February to see our ENT for a checkup, and we will return every six months to our audiologist to check the fit and programming of her devices and to evaluate her hearing.  Let's just hope that Izzy's ears do not grow as fast as the rest of her!  A pair of jeans that fit just a couple of weeks ago definitely did not fit yesterday morning.  

Tuesday was supposed to be Izzy's first day of school, but the snow delay kept her at home with me.  So, tomorrow morning, she'll get to finally experience her newest classroom and classmates.  I can't wait to see her progress!  On Friday, her preschool is having their Thanksgiving party.  I now she will have so much fun.  She loves school and "fwaying" (playing) with her friends.  We are so thankful to live in a community that accepts and loves Izzy.  Hopefully one day in the near future, Izzy will be able to tell Randy and me all about her day, her friends, the games she has played, and the lessons she has learned.  How exciting!  And we have all of you to thank for that!  :)  

Talk about a crying mess!

This morning, my fellow colleagues and students caught me totally off guard.  Before the bell rang for first period, our principal called us all to the gym with no explanation.  I was called to the center of the gym floor and handed a money bag full of student and faculty donations totaling $735!  I had absolutely no idea, but my Bulldog family had been raising money by selling baked goods and Dr. Enuf's, along with accepting other donations.  Well, this momma, who tries to maintain a pretty tough exterior around these almost grown children, lost it in front of everyone.  Good thing I was already running late and didn't have on my normal amount of eye makeup!  

Randy and I can't possibly thank each person who gives to Izzy's cause the way that he or she deserves, so my simple, overused thank you will have to suffice.  As for today's surprise, I am so blessed to have my Bulldog family.  I can truly say that no matter how difficult things get at work, whether through policy changes or confrontations in the classroom - which are few and far between - I know I am surrounded by people who will care for me and support me.  That fact alone comforts me.  

For my students: bless you.  I hope you will always have that giving heart to provide for others.  A student in my fourth period said it best:  "Look out for others, and they'll look out for you."  How true.  

For my co-workers: I've learned so much from so many of you.  I've learned patience.  I've learned when to shut my mouth.  I've learned when to take action.  I've learned empathy and compassion.  You all are my second family, and I am grateful for more than just this monetary donation.  I'm grateful that I work side-by-side with the best people in this business. You are an inspiration everyday to our students, and working hard to help Izzy is another testament to your commitment to molding the minds of our current students.  They see how much effort you put into community support, and they learn how important it is to take care of others, including our own.  That's more powerful than any information in a textbook.  

I'll remember this morning as the most humbling experience of my lifetime.  

Lastly, a big thank you to my mom, sister, and nieces for helping in these fundraisers.  They baked plenty of goodies for bake sales at school.  

My goodness!  Izzy has so many people who love her.  What a blessing!   

Izzy's hearing aids will be PINK!

We had a busy afternoon of doctor visits today.  First, we saw our ENT who looked at her ears and removed some nasty gunk from her infected right ear and the tube from her left ear.  Izzy was such a trooper!  She laid her head down on the arm rests of the chair on either side and let the Doc do what he had to do.  She barely flinched!  We've been using Debrox to help remove her ear wax.  Today, our doctor recommended using a couple drops of baby oil before bath time as an alternative.  I would have never thought of baby oil!  We'll give it a try in a few days.  

Next up was our audiologist.  We sat in his office for at least an hour listening to our options and how hearing aids and other amplification devices work. All the while, Miss Izzy stayed over by a table with all of the demo aids.  She would pick one and try to put it in her ear.  Then move to the next one and repeat the process.  She knew what to do without us having to show her.  I suppose that is a sign that Izzy already recognizes her own needs.  Funny how things work out that way.  

Finally, Izzy had a very important decision to make.  Which color?  Of course, while wearing her Spiderman shirt, she chose pink!  Her aids, tubes, and molds will all be a light, girly shade of pink.  :) 

Our audiologist explained that her molds can last up to a year, depending on how much she grows, of course.  Each set of molds is around $150.  The aids can last up to five years and sometimes even longer.  Since we are not sure if Izzy's hearing will change significantly over the next few years, the aids we chose will allow for changes up to 20 decibels, which is a very significant difference.  The great news?  We get a comprehensive warranty!  Plus, we can get these babies insured, which we will. They are so tiny.  I can just imagine them slipping off Izzy's ears, falling to the floor, and either being lost forever or being trampled to the point of nonrecognition.  So, a "kid kit" is in order, too.  She will have some sort of device that attaches to both aids to ensure if they do fall out of her ears, they won't crash to the floor.  

The best part of the visit - at least from this momma's perspective - was our incredible doctor.  He took the extra time to look at and explain Izzy's old records from her hearing screening just after she was born.  Also, he filled out a lengthy form and wrote a letter to complete our grant applications for HIKE Fund, Inc. and for United Healthcare Children's Foundation.  Instead of kicking us out at 5:00, we shut the place down around 5:20, which means he spent yet another two hours with us.  This man is earning his pay, but he is worth every penny.  We are so fortunate to have a doctor who understands that we have no idea what we are doing! Fortunately, not only does our doctor understand because this is his profession, but also his son experiences the same type of hearing loss as Izzy.  Again, funny how these things work out.  

So, this was a big day for us. Now, we'll wait for a few more weeks to get Izzy's pink hearing aids.  I know that will be a big day for us, too.  I can't wait to see the changes in her hearing and communication.  

To all of you who have donated and/or shared our story, THANK YOU!  Randy and I are so humbled to have such amazing support from family, friends, and even complete strangers.  Bless each of you! We are almost halfway to our goal!  Wow!  If you are local to Northeast TN, don't forget our Cupcakes for Izzy raffle!   

Here is a look at Izzy getting her casts made for her molds.  Even the putty was pink! 
  

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Cupcakes, anyone?

Thanks to Ashlee Williams for an amazing idea, my sister has agreed to participate in our fundraising effort for Izzy!

The details…


Cupcakes for Izzy:  A raffle-style contest accepting $20 donations

Prize:  One person will win one dozen cupcakes each month, January through December, for the upcoming year of 2015.

How to enter:  Make a donation of $20, the cost of one dozen of my sister's tasty treats, to the Help Izzy Hear fund either on this blog through Paypal, the GoFundMe page, or to my sister or me personally.  When entering the contest online, you must include a comment that the donation is for Cupcakes for Izzy.

Who can enter:  Persons making donations specifically for this contest must live in the Tri-Cities area (Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol, Greeneville, Morristown).  Immediate family members are excluded.  Sorry, dad!

Contest deadline:  The Cupcakes for Izzy contest begins immediately and ends December 31st, 2014 at 12:00 pm.

How the winner is chosen:  We're going old school with this one.  All entries will be written down on pieces of paper and placed in a hat.  Izzy will choose one entry to win the prize.  This entire process will be documented on video and posted to all of our outlets by 6:00 pm on December 31st, 2014.  The winner will be contacted by email and/or Facebook.  Exact delivery dates and flavors will be discussed then.

Total value of prize: $240


As with the other donations, all Cupcakes for Izzy donations will be included in the fund for her hearing aids.  We greatly appreciate your support!  

Good luck to everyone who participates! 

A moment of reflection...

Wouldn't you know that after three years of taking absolutely no antibiotics, tomorrow will probably be the first dose? When I got home today, I noticed Izzy had some crustiness beside her ear on her cheek. Upon further inspection, she had some major fluid leaking out of her ear. One of the most common initial questions we are asked about Izzy's hearing relates to ear infections, but we've been lucky to have never had one. With this being said, I realize that there are many more children out there with more demanding issues than Izzy's. I know there are children who face a lifetime of being completely deaf or blind or of being bound to wheelchairs. Then there are those children who have had to face multiple, life-threatening surgeries to repair or improve congenital birth defects. Even worse, there are children who may never live to see adulthood. Again, my family is so fortunate to be as healthy as we are. Sure, Izzy will have her own struggles with hearing and speech, but many other kids will wish this type of issue was their only concern. 

After a few days of being completely overwhelmed and frustrated because of one piece of bad news after another, we have found solace in the -AMAZING- support from all of our donors and the encouraging words from all who have taken time to leave a comment or share our story. Even though there are many people in need, you have chosen to make Izzy's need a priority. Randy and I sincerely thank you for that. Thank you. Thank you. 

So, for Izzy and me, we'll be heading to the pediatrician in the morning to get a handle on this infection. Please say a little pray that this will pass quickly!

Go Fund Me!

Initially, I created a GoFundMe account to start this fundraising activity; however, my husband didn't like the fact that GoFundMe did not have a PayPal option for payment.  Therefore, we decided to go with this blog.  Once we shared the blog, the first question was, "Do you have a GoFundMe account?" Ha!  Go figure.  So, I recreated the GoFundMe.  This way those who want to donate can either choose to use PayPal or a credit card.

Today has been tough...

Yes, so today has been a tough day.  After dropping off Izzy at preschool, Randy and I met with a super nice lady at our local Health Department to learn more about Children Special Services.  While this woman was very helpful and full of information, ultimately, we learned, officially, that we do not meet the financial requirements for the program.  She did open a few more doors for us, however.  I've spent the rest of the day researching different programs such as 504 educational plans, IEPs, and the ADA hoping to find a way to help Izzy get these hearing aids she needs.  Additionally, I've spent more time on the phone with our insurance company - waste of time - and the TN Department of Education - an even bigger waste of time.  By the way, can somebody please inform me as to why insurance companies are not required to cover hearing aids for children when their entire future can be determined by their ability to hear?  I'm completely amazed by this!  Check out the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's "Effects of Hearing Loss on Development" to see exactly what Izzy already experiences and what may come in the near future.  Moreover, view "The Prevalence and Incidence of Hearing Loss in Children" to see some shocking statistics about this disability.

While I didn't find the news I wanted, I have found out that Izzy will have the assistance she needs to be successful in her academic career.  There are tons of services that are mandated to help children with all sorts of disabilities, as there should be as long as the child wants those services.  Even more assuring are the seemingly endless scholarship opportunities, so I don't doubt that Izzy's future is even more promising with these available resources.  

Here I am again, though, struggling with my own selfish pride, but after getting definitive answers to whether we can get some financial support for Izzy's hearing aids, I have to give in and share this blog. Asking for monetary support is super difficult for us, but we know that with your help our girl has a better chance at overcoming her speech deficiencies now so that she can be as normal as the next kid later.  Again, thank you for your support, whether you are pushing the donate button or the share button.  

To donate, click on the Donate Now tab at the top of the page.  

Let's play catch-up...

Unfortunately, hearing loss is not typically seen as a significant problem unless people have profound loss or they are completely deaf; however, any hearing loss can present problems.  Just read the article Hearing loss an 'invisible,' and widely uninsured, problem to learn more about the effects of hearing loss and how most states and insurance companies avoid dealing with this disability.  Even though the article was posted two years ago, not much has changed since then.  

While many adults deal with hearing loss on a daily basis and have adapted to their own deficiencies - my dad, for instance - children, especially those who had hearing loss before being treated or receiving assistance, suffer in the most basic forms of communication.  Izzy may seem like a typical three year old, but her hearing loss is holding her back from being able to articulate her needs and wants.  What I didn't realize until just a few months ago was just how much I relied on hand gestures to communicate with Izzy.  We have our own form of communication that doesn't always include verbal cues.  Even with discipline, I can simply show one or two fingers and Izzy knows the drill; this is more effective than yelling I've found.  Still yet, I was completely baffled when our most recent audiologist explained that Izzy has moderate and severe hearing loss.  What?!  But she seems to get along just fine!  Initially, before all of these hearing evaluations, we thought she just needed speech therapy.  Now, of course, the issue is much more complicated.  Especially since Izzy is so young, even knowing exactly to what extent her hearing is affected is still questionable.  We need more reliable communication from her before we can establish what she can and can't hear with even more accuracy.  Ultimately, we know she has hearing loss and a speech delay, so we must address the hearing issue before we can even think about focusing on speech.  

Who would have thought that those cute things she mispronounced early on - "ooo" instead of "moo," "Iggy" instead of "Izzy," ya-ey" instead of "daddy" - were actually a telling sign that we had a problem?  If we were keeping score, these first time parents measure up as complete losers.  All the typical warnings signs were there - multiple failed infant hearing screenings, very few clear words spoken, missing initial and ending sounds, the phrase "turn it up" repeated over and over in the car or while watching TV - thankfully, she included the hand gesture to motion turning the radio knob; otherwise, we still might not know what she was saying! - and holding up the iPad to her left ear even when the volume was turned all the way up.  What on Earth were we thinking?  With this info, anyone can tell our child couldn't hear!  Over the past few months, Randy and I have struggled with our own feelings of self-doubt when it comes to our parenting simply because we question what we could have done differently to address Izzy's problem much sooner.  However, we can't go back and change things now.  We have to roll with it.  

Randy and I are having to face yet another issue: our pride.  We don't like to ask anybody for anything, but we are now at a place where we need help.  Izzy shouldn't have to suffer because of our own insecurities, so here goes nothing.  With our salaries, Randy and I make just above the minimum requirement for state assistance for Izzy's hearing aids, and our insurance won't pay.  There are grants and other options available, but mostly all of them have a financial requirement, which Randy and I both exceed.  I have found one grant, for which I have applied, but the amount awarded is not specified.  Consequently, even if we are awarded this grant, we are uncertain if the total cost will be covered.  We are facing around a $4,000 bill for Izzy's hearing aids now, but because she is just a child, we will need frequent moldings and new equipment.  This will be an ongoing medical expense for the rest of her life.  If this was something expected, of course Randy and I would have been prepared, and we will be in the future; however, even with hearing evaluations going on, we were never given any insight into this type of treatment or expense.  Again, first time parents = losing!  

Nevertheless, we want to turn this into something positive, and we need your help to do that.  Our goal is to raise $4,000 for Izzy's hearing aids.  In the event that we receive any money from the grant, a fund will be established only for Izzy's necessary hearing equipment and doctor visits.  Anything you are willing to give is greatly appreciated and will be paid forward.  If you are unable to give, please share this story and blog with people you know on any of the social networking sites.  

Randy, Izzy, and I thank you for your support, and we'll update you along the way. 

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