Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
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:
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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.
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:
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
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! :)
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! :)
Monday, November 17, 2014
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!
Monday, November 10, 2014
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!
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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!
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
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!
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!
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
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!
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!
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