Can I be super transparent here for a minute? Since I’m not normally much of a complainer, I will keep this short, as I like to try to keep my focus on the positive as much as I can! But these past couple of days have been pretty tough, and writing is my outlet. I’m better with this kind of info when I’m typing rather than talking, as I tend to get misty and make people feel awkward when I talk about this stuff in person.
As the parents of a little boy with profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, Price and I have done all we can to be as proactive as possible in getting our baby on the path to hearing and speaking as well as possible with his condition.
His condition is severe. It took the diagnosis of his hearing loss being “profound” for me to actually realize the magnitude of that word, and Dempsey’s case. Profound. Very great. Severe. It’s an extreme condition.
To keep a long story very condensed, we felt like we were in the absolute best care possible, due in large part to (1) our fabulous audiologist (who happens to be the one who found out that Dempsey was profoundly deaf on January 3) and (2) our amazing early interventionist who our entire family simply adores. These two were the two we have been meeting with most frequently throughout our journey thus far so of course we have developed relationships with them! Well, on Monday we found out that we are losing both of them. Our audiologist is no longer at UMMC (we don’t know yet where she’s going), and our early interventionist and his precious wife are moving this summer so she can take what sounds like a dream job on the west coast. We found all of this out in the span of about five minutes.
I cried. And cried.
I know this is only a temporary setback, as I’m sure whoever we see from here forward will be so capable and qualified and sweet and wonderful with our baby boy! But man, we had just fallen in love with these two precious souls. It’s a roundhouse kick to the gut, for sure.
I know scripture tells us that all things work together for good for those who love Him. Romans 8:28. (Accidentally quoted Jeremiah 29:11 originally, which is also great! But Romans is the correct ref. Thank you, Mama, for catching!) Through all of this, I have fallen even deeper into love with Him, so I am certain it will all be good in the long run. I’m not scared about the future. Still not worried about the Dempsey Bean or his chances of being super successful in this life, but this all still sucks. Plain and simple. It just sucks.
Thankfully we get to continue seeing our early interventionist for a couple more months. I pray that whoever is hired to replace him is just as amazing! And although I dearly miss our audiologist, I know it will all work out. It will be fine. I plan to keep up with her! 🙂
It helps me get through the junky mood I’ve been in the past couple of days when I can write it out. So thank you for letting me say how I feel “out loud” to get it off my chest 🙂
We have a fantastic army of family and friends praying us through this voyage. I still feel strong and thankful and blessed by so many things and people. Sometimes it’s okay for a girl to just take a few minutes to be bummed, right?! 🙂
For anyone interested in keeping up with our journey through my blog posts, I just created a new “Dempsey’s Ears” category on my sidebar where I’ll file all of the posts like these. You can check it out to view our past updates if you want 🙂 It is my prayer that we are able to encourage others through this unique path!
To end this update on a high note– how sweet are these pictures that my beautiful friend Lauren took of me and Dempsey when we went to visit her in Florida last weekend?! If you’re in the Pensacola area and need some pics taken, let me know and I’ll share her info! She’s amazing! These pictures definitely make me smile 🙂
Thank you so much for reading today. It means so much.
Lots and lots of love to you! XO
Love you! I can totally sympathize with all of these feelings. Gut punch is tough . We often say “if we weren’t laughing we would be crying”
Don’t know if I ever told you during our YL banquet decorating and first meeting (where btw I felt like I’d known you for years)
That our now 21 year old Russell was diagnosed with autism around 2 and 1/2 years old. I feel your frustration and don’t ever apologize for being honest and raw. I like to think Jesus squeezes us a little tighter when we are.
Love you guys and praying for sweet Dempsey !
Praying for you
Thank you Elizabeth! I remember you mentioning that about your sweet Russell. Thanks so much for the encouragement!! I love thinking about Jesus squeezing us a little tighter during these times of hurt. Love YOU and hope to see ya again SOON! 🙂
Continuing to pray for y’all!
Thank you so much Ann!!! Means SO MUCH! <3
Laurel, I have fallen in love with your family! Tears are running down my face. I love love how you say “it sucks” because it does. And sometimes we hit the brick wall and it is ok!!! Continued prayers for your bean and the rest of the hoo clan !
Thank you Julie!! We love you and the Dee clan SO MUCH!! Loved getting to take in all of MadCo’s problems next to you last night 😉
XOXO!
I love you sweet Laurel. Your writing is beautiful, honest, transparent, and very human. I love how you’re recording not just the beauty of everything, but the yucky parts, too.
While we can’t all relate to the struggles of parenting a child with profound hearing loss, we can all relate to the loss of our “plan” or our “security” in something. It’s so human to question HIS plan when we’re in the midst of it… and then to see how it all unfolds so perfectly later.
Will continue to pray for him, you, and the new souls He has planned to bring into your lives soon.
P.S. PICS ARE THE BEST!! His smile ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Love you Stephanie! Thank you so much. You are so right! It will be so neat to look back in the coming weeks, months, and years to see how God has been at work! 🙂 LOVE YOU!!
Laurel,
Bless your heart. My heart is broken because I know you now have so many new questions about Dempsey’s care. It is my prayer that the new care takers will be loving and smart. I pray that you grow comfortable with the both of the new audiologist and the early interventionist and that they will bring new insight to every thing you are going through. Most of all I pray that sweet Dempsey will respond well to his new care takers. I am offering prayers of thanks giving for the miracles God has already planed for Dempsey. What a glorious day when Dempsey hears his mama’s voice. Jeremiah 29:11 [New Internation Version] For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
King James says “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you an expected end. Amen & Amen Stand on this and claim it. It is God’s promise to you and sweet Dempsey. quote it every day to Dempsey out loud and give thanks!
Love,
Lori
Yes, you absolutely have a right to be bummed! Sending hugs to you and precious Dempsey.
Thank you beautiful friend!! Hope I see your face again sometime soon! XO!
He is so precious I can barely stand it. When you get gut-punched, let us help you back up. Love you, you perfect sunflower.
Thank you, you raven-haired sunfish 🙂 Love you oh so much! Thankful for you!
Your honesty and your faith are inspiring Please know that as a reader of your blog, though we have never met, I will add you, Dempsey, and the rest of your precious family to my prayers. May God bless and guide you , and bring loving/caring/knowledgeable health professionals into your lives as you navigate this path
Take care
Thank you so much Mary! Thanks a million for reading and commenting. Your support means so much! 🙂
While on our journey with Nicole we fell in love with-and had to say goodbye to-several incredible folks. Therapists, nurses, doctors. Each time I mourned and worried about what was to come. It took me awhile to learn, often by looking back at the series of events which had occurred, that each piece of the overall puzzle fit perfectly. God’s plan is so perfect! The right people came into our lives at the right time and the result is that Nicole is an ambulatory incomplete quadriplegic. She walks! When I see what she’s doing in her life I wonder why I spent one moment worrying. God’s got her! He’s got me! And he’s got Dempsey and your precious family in His loving hands. Write it out, then give it up to him. Big love. ❤️
Nicole is SUCH an inspiration! So incredible! I remember when all that was happening how much I admired how y’all walked through it with such grace. Thank you for the encouragement and great reminders! It will all be great and wonderful, I’m CERTAIN! 🙂 God is so very good! Love you!!! (We need to get a group to go eat again soon!)
Laurel,
Thank you for sharing your heart with us. You and price are such amazing parents. I know God is covering all of you on this journey.
The Watsons’ are praying for little Dempsey and each of you!!!
Thank you Vick!! You are the best 🙂 Love you lots!
Again, I just have to say how I love the way you use words…so real and truthful. God is using you to give hope and encouragement to others who need it. God’s got Dempsey and your precious family in the palm of His hand. I can’t imagine how people who aren’t believers survive struggles in this world. I’ll be praying for y’all: peace, encouragement and strength to run this race with Dempsey and that the new audiologist and early interventionist will care for and love Dempsey even more than his first ones! You have grown into a beautiful, godly mama!
Thank you so much Mrs. Campbell!! Love getting to see you at church! So appreciative of your sweet and kind words and for al your prayers! 🙂 Love you!
Laurel, What an incredible and inspiring story! You are one incredible young lady! I’m thankful you, Price, and your family are at Broadmoor! Never hesitate to call on me if I can be of any help to y’all. Praying Philippians 4:6-8 today…
You’re the best Harvey 🙂 Thanks SO much!!! And great scripture. Thank you for reminding me of it!!
Laurel, when Dempsey Bean pops up on my fb with his smiling , giggling face it makes my day!!! There is nothing in this world better than that! And, you wouldn’t know that he couldn’t hear if you didn’t already know that for a fact!
And let me say, loosing your favorite doctors for your baby does “suck”! So, you definitely deserve to proclaim that!
God found those doctors for your baby to provide the treatment that he has gotten and is going to have and we are so very grateful for having them for this time!
Now, New specialist will be able to slide right into their places provide just the perfect care that Bean needs and if they can’t, they will refer him to others that can do what needs to be done!
Then, think of all the babies like Bean that need to hear and can’t that are on the west coast. Now there is someone that can help them. They will have hope just like Bean. God will provide the care that is necessary.
You are an amazing mother! I love reading your story! Stay strong in your faith and God will be with you!
You’re right, it does suck. And you can be bummed all you want. I remember sitting with my counselor in Dallas, telling him that the night before I was so angry with God that I shook my fist at Him and said, if you think I’m talking to you tonight you’re wrong. My counselor said all that tells me is that you take your relationship with the Lord very seriously and His shoulders can handle it. Keep the faith. He is your stronghold. Love , Allen
Laurel and Co. –
I had spoken with your Mom and she had filled me in on the bummer news. As I told her, I’m confident equal or greater people with talents to assist Dempsey and y’all will be placed in your life. Love and prayers cuz❤️🙏.
I know you keep things away from your work place… but I had no idea, NO idea you were going through this my sweet Laurel! You told me once, When we were at market together, when a slight traumatic event was going on ( you know the one) something about worry that your grandma used to say to you. You said “Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere”. That really stuck with me and I recite it to myself often. She is right, your grandma. The best people are in your life and the BEST help for Dempsey will be in his life. So be sad for now but DO NOT worry. Hugs and much love.