Meet the Stambaughs

I have offically started this blog because our youngest son Troy was born over a month ago and is deaf. We have many family and friends who want constant updates on him, the other children, and how we are handling the situation. I thought instead of answering multiple phone calls (not saying that I don't LOVE talking to each one of you) that I could update this every so often instead.

Many people ask about how we found out about Troy's deafness so early. According to some research my mom and I did, 20% of hospitals in America check a baby's hearing at time of birth. We just happen to be blessed enough that we were in one that did. The second night at the hospital Troy was brought back in the room from the nursery with a purple card in his bassinet saying he failed a hearing test in both ears. I must admit that I was pretty upset that no one told us, instead they just stuck a card in his bassinet. It was also hard to handle because it was 2:00 am. We talked to some doctors and nurses and they said it's not uncommon for babies to fail the test in the hospital and pass just fine in the weeks to come. Two weeks after being released from the hospital we repeated the test and Troy failed MISERABLY! He was supposed to get 160/160 and he got 7/160 in his left ear and 16/160 in his right ear. This was the hardest day of them all so far. We made an appointment to meet with an audiologist 2 weeks from that date to do a diagnostic test. On October 22nd, we met with an audiologist and found that Troy has what is called Profound Hearing Loss because of nerve damage. His hearing will never get better, however we found out that Kent County is the best county to live in if you have a child with hearing loss. This is because of their great schools and doctors.

We have since meet with the doctors office that will be doing Troy's cochlear implant when he's 1 year old. Apparently, in the state of Michigan you have to use hearing aids for 6 months before you are a canidate for cochlear implant. More than likely the hearing aids will not help, due to the fact that they amplify hearing and Troy has no hearing to amplify - however it has to be done.

Currently we are preparing to meet with Kenoshea (not sure if I spelled that right). Kenoshea is the special needs program here in GR that will assist us for Troy's first 10 - 20 years of life. They will help us set Troy up in a school for the deaf. I am also in the process of teaching Thom and the other 3 kids to sign. I have taken a sign language class in college and have learned various other signs while growing up in the church.

Other than that our family is doing great. We are having a birthday party for Dean tomorrow at Craig's Cruisers to celebrate his 7th birthday!! I can't believe it. Dani and Brady are moving schools again thanks to their mom, however they seem excited. Thom is doing great but very, very busy. He has to go to Chicago several times in the past couple weeks and has to go back this week for most of week and some of next week.

Hope all is good with you readers! God bless you all as He has blessed me.