Our boys ‘a blessing to our lives’
A NORTH Queensland family has opened up on raising two boys with hearing loss and the life-changing “blessing” which has given them hope for the future.
Jade and Nikko Lord were buzzing when they found out they had fallen pregnant with their first child.
Like any new parents, they couldn’t wait to meet their son, Jock.
“Being our first born there was already so many emotions and hormones,” Mrs Lord said.
“You’re holding your newborn in your arms and wanting everything to be perfect.”
Jock underwent testing after birth which found he may have hearing difficulties.
The Lords were advised by specialists to go for a three-hour audilogy test. This test reaveled baby Jock only had 30 per cent hearing.
It came as a shock to the family as there was no history of deafness.
“We walked in (to the test) optimistic, and when we walked out we both broke down in the hallway,” Mrs Lord said.
“We took a minute to absorb the information.
“It’s sad because we know the beauty and the gift of sound and we don’t want him to miss out on anything in life.
“We weren’t daunted by the challenge, it was just how is life going to be for him? We just didn’t know what was ahead for us.”
The couple, who live on Woodstock Station about 200km north of Richmond, prepared for the birth of their second son, Sandy, a couple of years later.
“We were optimistic that Sandy wouldn’t have the same hearing loss,” Mrs Lord said.
“But he was born with about 50 per cent hearing.
“We have no reason as to why they have hearing loss.
It won’t stop us having children but it would be nice to know what the cause is and if there will be a flow-on for their children.”
Mrs Lord said both of her sons were fitted with hearing aids early before teaming up with organisation Hear and Say to assist with their speech development.
“There was no doubt about what they could do for the kids, but also for us,” Mrs Lord said of Hear and Say.
“They were upfront and very confident in being able to support the boys and us as parents.
“They do a lot to make sure their language is coming along with other children their age and meeting their milestones.
“They go above and beyond to make sure they’re always getting the best care. It’s a blessing and a real joy to see.”
Hear and Say are holding a Loud Shirt Day fundraiser on October 22 to raise awareness for kids with hearing loss.