Maddy regained some speech after about 3 weeks. She was still unable to walk, but could move her arms and legs slowly. As soon as she was able to talk, she immediately asked about Cecelia. After about a week of speech therapy, Maddy was able to speak enough to have a full understandable conversation.
"I can't wait to see Cecelia" Maddy said, smiling, looking at a picture on David's phone of Cecelia in her carseat.
David smiled back. He still hadn't told Maddy that Cecelia was deaf, and didn't know how to approach it. He was always so focused on making sure Maddy was focused on her treatment that he hadn't found the right time.
"How big is she now?" Maddy asked.
"She's still a peanut, I promise" David said, putting his hand on Maddy's.
"Has she gone for check ups?"
David nodded. "Two" He said quickly.
"What?" Maddy asked.
"What?" David asked back.
"You got weird"
David sighed, and looked at Maddy.
"First things first, I want you to know she's completely healthy"
"Ok..."
"Um, at her first appointment they tested her hearing and found out she's deaf"
"You didn't tell me... that our daughter... is deaf?" Maddy asked.
"Maddy, listen, I needed you to focus on getting better"
"Ok, but David, i've been able to communicate for a while now, and i've been able to hear since I woke up, and you didn't tell me?"
"I... yeah, I mean I should have told you sooner, I know, but I didn't know how to tell you"
"Did you take her to a specialist?"
"Yes"
"Can she get a cochlear implant?"
"Yes but... I don't think we should get her a cochlear implant"
"What do you mean? Do you want her to be deaf?"
"Yes"
Maddy stared at David.
"What the hell?"
"She's not like... broken... she doesn't need to be fixed"
"I didn't say she's broken, i'm saying she's missing a sense that we can give her with a cochlear implant"
"They don't always work. Plus, sometimes they cause severe pain and you can't take them out without extensive surgery"
"Don't you think it's worth that risk?"
"No! Maddy, I don't think it's worth that risk, and even if there wasn't a risk I don't think it's bad for her to grow up deaf. If she wants a cochlear implant when she's older we'll let her get one"
"I don't even know what to say right now"
David shrugged.
"Research it, Maddy, I don't know what to tell you. Cecelia is perfect the way she is"
Maddy was quiet for a moment, staring past David.
"I didn't say she wasn't perfect"
"Then don't make her get a cochlear implant. We can learn ASL, it's really easy. Plus, there are deaf schools around here, and there's even a deaf college. Even if she doesn't want to go to deaf college, she can go to another college with an interpreter"
"I want to talk to the specialist"
David sighed.
"Ok, when you get released and we go for her next ENT appointment you can talk to the specialist"
"I just cannot believe you want to deprive her of the ability to hear"
"You don't need to be able to hear! That is so dramatic, Maddy, come on"
"So you're telling me you don't care if she ever hears music, or, fuck, David, your voice?"
"Yes, i'm telling you she doesn't need to hear any of those things to live a completely fulfilled life"
Just then, one of Maddy's doctors walked in, causing David and Maddy to drop the subject. Maddy went down to physical therapy, and David went home without finishing the conversation.
----------------------------
Yikes @ Maddy....... also forgot to add this but 2 more chapters, any preference on when they're posted? do u want a break before the last 2? do u want them all today? lmk
