Help me learn ASL for Gus
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On October 21st, our son August (Gus) was born via emergency c-section. Due to extreme blood loss during delivery, Gus was transferred to the NICU3 at Beth Israel in Boston where he underwent extensive treatment and life saving care from their incredible staff. Gus was then transferred to the NICU2 at Beverly Hospital and finally came home with us in early November a healthy - albeit tiny - baby, surpassing all expectations from his doctors.
Unfortunately, a few weeks later, Gus was diagnosed with a serious and frustratingly confusing hearing disorder called Auditory Neuropathy. The short of it is that Gus is permanently deaf in both ears, and although his team of doctors at Children's are hopeful and diligently working at various treatments and interventions, chances are that sound will not be a meaningful part of Gus's life.
To say our world changed in an instant is both accurate and an understatement. My first few weeks and months as a mother consisted of a fugue state vacillating between pure joy and indescribable sadness. I had a healthy baby boy who was thriving, but who's future was now totally foreign to me. I had a heart that was so full, and at the same time, so broken.
Our family and friends rallied around us and held us above water, and continue to hold us, with enough support and energy to move mountains. I will never understand what I did in my life to deserve the amount of love that has been wrapped around my tiny family this winter.
As the fog of this new reality begins to lift, we are starting down this new path as parents. We are using all of the amazing resources made available to us via the Massachusetts Early Intervention Program, BSfD, ASL Tutoring, Saturday Morning Family Sign, local families and support groups, and so many others. There is so much out there and we are so grateful for all of it.
I feel like the most important thing I can do as Gus's mother right now is to learn the language he will be using the rest of his life. I worry nonstop about how I will not learn ASL fast enough, correctly, or at a pace that will keep me able to communicate with him, understand what he needs, or teach him about the world.
That being said, I am asking for your help in furthering my high dive into ASL. I have taken a lot of free programs online, as well as a few inexpensive continuing ed classes so far, but I really would like to supplement our current ASL lessons with a rigorous ASL program offered online though Gallaudet University.
There are four courses - ASL I,II,III,IV - found here (https://www.gallaudet.edu/american-sign-language-programs/online-asl-courses). Each course is $950. I am trying to raise $5,000 to cover the tuition, books, and fees. Anything extra will go towards Gus's care and education for which he will need an indefinite amount of resources.
As you know, the idea of asking for help is not fun. And I don't expect anymore kindness from the universe because we have received so much already. But its worth a shot. Its worth asking for.
Nothing will stop me from learning to communicate with my son, but I feel like these intensive classes will get me to that place a little faster and give me the peace of mind that when Gus is ready to talk, I will be ready too.
Thank you for considering.
All our love,
Kara, Kieran & August
Unfortunately, a few weeks later, Gus was diagnosed with a serious and frustratingly confusing hearing disorder called Auditory Neuropathy. The short of it is that Gus is permanently deaf in both ears, and although his team of doctors at Children's are hopeful and diligently working at various treatments and interventions, chances are that sound will not be a meaningful part of Gus's life.
To say our world changed in an instant is both accurate and an understatement. My first few weeks and months as a mother consisted of a fugue state vacillating between pure joy and indescribable sadness. I had a healthy baby boy who was thriving, but who's future was now totally foreign to me. I had a heart that was so full, and at the same time, so broken.
Our family and friends rallied around us and held us above water, and continue to hold us, with enough support and energy to move mountains. I will never understand what I did in my life to deserve the amount of love that has been wrapped around my tiny family this winter.
As the fog of this new reality begins to lift, we are starting down this new path as parents. We are using all of the amazing resources made available to us via the Massachusetts Early Intervention Program, BSfD, ASL Tutoring, Saturday Morning Family Sign, local families and support groups, and so many others. There is so much out there and we are so grateful for all of it.
I feel like the most important thing I can do as Gus's mother right now is to learn the language he will be using the rest of his life. I worry nonstop about how I will not learn ASL fast enough, correctly, or at a pace that will keep me able to communicate with him, understand what he needs, or teach him about the world.
That being said, I am asking for your help in furthering my high dive into ASL. I have taken a lot of free programs online, as well as a few inexpensive continuing ed classes so far, but I really would like to supplement our current ASL lessons with a rigorous ASL program offered online though Gallaudet University.
There are four courses - ASL I,II,III,IV - found here (https://www.gallaudet.edu/american-sign-language-programs/online-asl-courses). Each course is $950. I am trying to raise $5,000 to cover the tuition, books, and fees. Anything extra will go towards Gus's care and education for which he will need an indefinite amount of resources.
As you know, the idea of asking for help is not fun. And I don't expect anymore kindness from the universe because we have received so much already. But its worth a shot. Its worth asking for.
Nothing will stop me from learning to communicate with my son, but I feel like these intensive classes will get me to that place a little faster and give me the peace of mind that when Gus is ready to talk, I will be ready too.
Thank you for considering.
All our love,
Kara, Kieran & August
Organizer
Kara Healey
Organizer
Gloucester, MA
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