Brooklynn's Battle

Brooklynn Faith Gray was born on August 28th, 2015 and lived happy, healthy and carefree until 3 months after her 2nd birthday, the reason being that her mother Vanessa and father Paul noticed something was wrong. She lost her ability to speak, wasn’t responding to her name when called and she became detached.  With hospital visits and doctor’s examinations we all soon learned that she was inexplicably losing her hearing.

With no knowledge of how or why this was happening and no insight of how we could slow the progression of this loss, we did the only thing we could, supported her.

She is a happy little girl and seemed to be creating her own adaptations around her inability to hear until that was no longer an option. On December 15th, 2017 she was pronounced profoundly deaf and was promptly scheduled for cochlear implant surgery. 


Now I was to preface this by saying that this was both a very happy moment and a very sad moment because the prospect of modern technology allowing her to hear was an incredible opportunity but also grief that she would have a long journey ahead of her which was very hard. On February 21st, 2018 she had her cochlear devices implanted and activated March 21st, 2018. With every step that came next, we waited on baited breath with the understanding that the worst was behind us.


She will grow to understand that with her magic ears, she is just that much more incredible.

We lead with complete optimism about the future and the overwhelming strength she displayed throughout this extraordinarily difficult recovery process. 


The days marched on but her progress slowed. She was healing perfectly but her ability to do all the things an active two-and-a-half-year-old can do, lessened. 

As of today – June 2018, Brooklynn Faith has declined in health and abilities immensely. Brooklynn has regressed so significantly that she cannot walk, cannot sit unassisted, can no longer feed herself, she cannot be left alone as the risk to her little body being injured is just too great.

She is such a trooper smiling through the many hospital visits, playing, engaging and winning over the hearts of everyone in her company. 


Her hearing loss and the implantation of her “magic ears” are behind us but costs of the equipment for her declining physical condition are inevitable.

With the unknown journey ahead, the fight that we thought, wished and prayed would soon be over is becoming more insurmountable. She immediately requires an abdominal binder to help her sit comfortably, braces for her weakened body, and is awaiting fitting for a motorized wheelchair that can be controlled by her head as that is currently the strongest muscle in her body. She now requires 7 day/ 24-hour care, specialized seating and a custom Gait Trainer to assist her with everyday activities.

Life is changing ever so quickly and with no diagnosis or answers as to how or why, who knows what the future holds for this family.


The reality is the desire to do all the things she used to be able to do still seem so close she can almost reach out and touch them. In her mind, she thinks she can still do it all because she has such vivid memories of jumping and playing with all the other little princesses at her last birthday. Frankly, at this point, she wants to be left alone to do it herself.

 
Which bring me to the reason for this campaign, I aim to do more than just raise money for her future, I aim to create awareness and acceptance of not only her new magic ears but also of the unknown. Something that keeps me up at night is knowing that not every child suffering from these struggles have the support of their parents or the support of a community. And not every parent has someone to lean on for guidance and strength seeing their child suffer unimaginable pain.

From the money raised, I pledge to make a donation in Brooklynn’s name to infant hearing loss research and family resources. 

I also pledge to keep a portion of funds raised for Brooklynn’s future, so she can become what she is destined to become, and blaze the trial she will unquestionably blaze.


The devices and equipment she requires are expensive and though her family works very hard to support her the costs are mounting.

Vanessa, Paul, Brayden and Brooklynn have each done a tremendous job getting through these difficult times together, with unshakeable strength and unconditional love, their courage amazes me.

With this campaign, I strive to relieve some of the financial burdens they are undoubtedly carrying by.


Thank you for all the love, prayers and well wishes as they face this incredibly difficult journey ahead.