Tina and Mike have been thriving with there jobs, Tina's boutique and now with Mike choreographing is friends shows to now teaching dance at the local college. They have been more set then ever until they got the news, There son Arthur has complete hearing loss. It hit Tina the worst, she blamed herself for him being early, as a preemie, with all those tubes in his body. Then being told he was completely deaf, before he even got the opportunity to hear a word. Things like a cochlear implant, the pros and cons of it, speech therapy, yay or nay. While they did make the choice to learn American sign language for him and to teach him. It seemed like first right step for them to do for there son. His parents, are taking classes to teach him, all the while his grandparents, Rachel, Finn, Quinn, Puck, Santana and Britanny have made a equal effort with books to learn as well.
Raising a 6 month old, with a different ability then other kids, learning a whole new language, two full time working parents and night classes is alot for them both. It is giving Tina a overwhelming day to day life, as she needs to make decisions that could alter there lives a little, for her family and herself.
Mike is in particular just glad everyone is okay. Tina had a emergency surgery to give birth to there son. It was one of the scariest moments of his life, the other being when there son didn't take his first breath until the nurses had to clear his airways and got him to breathe. Despite the stress that has been weighing on his shoulders, and Tina's. Tina has been worried for Arthur, as has he, they have so many decisions to make and decide that could ultimately benefit there son or not
They have made some friends online since they have learned there son is deaf, mommy circles and they have decided to get together with a mom to ask her opinion and hope that helps them. This is nothing there friends understand, with there kids, so surrounding yourself with people in similar circumstances seem like the best option to educuate themselves as Arthur's parents
They are now meeting with a respective mom that Tina met through the group "Ohio Parents of Deaf Children" who her 7 year old son is enrolled at Haverbrook School for the deaf, so this is exciting to get good knowledge from Beatrice as they just arrive to the coffee shop and meet her and her son Jonah.
"Hi? You must be Beatrice" Tina says as she, mike and the baby walk up to the outdoor dining table at the coffee shop
"I am, Its very nice to see you in person, and this must be your husband and son" Beatrice says as she shakes there hands
"Yes we are, Mike my husband, and our baby boy Arthur. We really appreciate you taking the time to meet with us and give us some insight. We honestly so confused on how we should help him, how his education will be and if a cochlear implant will help him hear" Tina exclaims
"Definently a lot of questions and I will do to my best of my extent to answer to the best of my knowledge, but First I want to begin the best thing you can do for your son, that I know because you have told me is have everyone involved in his life learn ASL. That will benefit him most and be beneficial knowing he has a support group who were willing to learn to communicate with him" She explains
"That was our thoughts exactly. In my free time at work, I am learning signed from a pocket dictionary I carry and practice all the signs from the homework that me and Tina's proffessor assigns us. Then while Tina is home with the baby I know she watches those parent signing videod to teach him" Mike says proudly
"Thats absolutely a great start, I know of some parents who couldn't be bothered to learn to communicate with there child, but rather have there child read lips which is even harder. I think you are doing the best you can so far! As for your other question no a cochlear implant will not help Arthur regain his hearing, I am surprised a doctor didnt tell you. The main reasoning for a cochlear implant is they will surgically be placed, it stimulates the cochlear nerve which is the nerve for hearing, it then allows them to hear sounds and there own speech to be proccessed so they can hear loud things, or give them the ability to learn to speak with speech therapy. I still highly reccomend sign because with my boy sometimes he gets overhwhelmed and turns it off, it can sometimes cause ringing in the ears but they deserve a break." Beatrice gives her advice regarding there questions
"Thats all very great advice" Tina writes down in her notebook "I was hoping for a hearing aid but I saw it was for moderate hearing loss but Arthurs is completly gone, But I have seen the risk, but I think it gives me some semblance of hope that he will be safe to hear loud cars, or anything that can harm him, or also to be able to speak to some people. I know not everyone will know ASL. Definently eases things for us. Now I think out other biggest concern is his education as in where he would get the best education with being deaf?"
"Well actually, I have a question as well" Mike speaks up "How do we incorporate things to help get his attention wuthout sound? or what happens if he needs to get ahold of emergency services but he can hear them on the phone? How do we go about making adjustments?" Mike asked
"Very great questions, you did some research as well. Makes me happy to see that" Beatrice responds "As to get his attention in the ouse, usually tapping your fooot, he could be able to feel the tap, or flickering lights captures there attention. Also, if the doorbell rings, there is a system you can set up so all the lights will flicker, signalling someone is at the door. As for calling emergency services 911 can now be texted but I reccomend a TDD or a telecommunivation device for the deaf, which they can turn on and it alerts the operator the individual messaging is deaf, great help. Always more options for the deaf community now" Beatrice paused and takes a sip of her drink, while taking a minute to sign to Jonah
Tina watched in awe, the way they so effortlessly communicated, and knows one day her and mike will be able to communicate like that with Arthur and it brings a smile to her face. Knowing they will be able to give him everything he needs
"Okay, he has a game to go to after this so I'll answer your final question before we had out. The choice between schools, the better safer bet, to learn more ASL, be around peers like him and to excel academically would be a deaf school. They would have better funding then the public schools and all deaf teachers and faculty. I believe academically he will strive. I know my Jonah has been ever since we have moved here so he can go to Haverbrook. He has never been happier. With that I am so glad to have met you, and hope we can meet again. It is nice to meet friends after just moving here" she hugs them both "I know you will do great for him, he is one lucky boy. It was nice meeting and look forward to meeting again" her and her son head out leaving Tina and Mike content and less stressed
Tina and Mike have a long conversation after her new friend leaves. She proceeds to feed arthur while they talk about his future and theirs, learning a new language, taking care of theirs son, with some help from his parents, but school and work its getting to be to much, so they have come up with multiple maybe lifechanging decisions. The first being Tina is gonna stop renting her boutique space, advertise her sho as a online business, so she can still earn some cash here and there, while still doing night classes while still having more time for Arthur. Mike will still be teaching but just that and his class because he will only work four days a week. His insurance will cover the majority of Arthurs cochlear implant surgery which they both decided would be best and decided the sooner they can the better, so recovery will be less of a scar to him mentally, so he wont remember, Tons of decisons have been made, they feel all for the best. Now to update their friends and family. This is all for him, Mike and Tina having there sons best interest at heart
YOU ARE READING
We Are Endgame
RandomThis is the sequel to my book "Here's to Us" The third book in this series. Tina is close to her due date. Sam and Brenda Help the glee club Win nationals. Mike and Tina go on a date. Colton, is settling in nicely with his new daddies. Rachel had m...
