Team Ollie

Ollie's Journey and our Tiny Tots Experience

A reflection on the year that was

Hi Everyone, Amy here! Mumma to Oliver James.

I sit here on Ollie’s first birthday and think back on the past year and all that I have learnt, and the support that we have received over our journey so far.

As a first-time mother I thought I was prepared for pretty much anything. I knew it would be a bumpy road with lots to learn and a lot of personal growth, but little did I know that the road was going to be something that would change my life forever in a different way altogether.

I didn’t grow up knowing anyone with hearing loss, so when the hospital told me that he had failed his initial hearing test, I didn’t have two thoughts about it. Everyone told me that it was probably just fluid and that the second test would give us the answer we were searching for. And that’s what I believed. Come the second failed test and I was hit with a wave of emotion that you can’t quite explain until you have experienced it.

It was almost the full 7 stages of grief all in the span of 15 seconds.

There was disbelief and denial because I knew he could hear; he startled at loud sounds and seemed to show emotion when we spoke to him. Along came anger, “Why did this happen to my little boy?”.  Sadness quickly followed, and to this day I still feel it again every time I am hit with the realisation that my little boy will never have life as easy as I wished him to have it. The tears fell and I struggled to come to terms with what these tears meant? Was it just sadness? Or was there some relief that he didn’t have profound loss and so his life was less impacted, and then guilt because I felt this as well?

Then I just felt scared and I remember being so confused by this. Thinking, what’s to fear? Over time I realised the fear was for Ollie, and the challenges he would face and what if I couldn’t live up to the challenges he’d need me to help him face.

For most, finding acceptance and hope can take time.

In my life, I have had many occasions where I feel I didn’t rise to the occasion. However, when it came to the health, wellness and growth for my child, I couldn’t have jumped higher into hope and action. Within 1 week of diagnosis we were engaging with Hearing Australia for aids and by 3 months we had begun Tiny Tots at Can:Do for Kids.

We’ve had so many questions about Ollie’s hearing loss and what it meant for his future, and the Can:Do Group have been there every step of the way! The support and care we receive every time we walk through the doors has been incredible and we wouldn’t have the knowledge and tools to support Ollie in his journey without Ali and the team.

So that’s why we will be wearing it Loud and Proud this October 17^th!

To support our children and to ensure the fantastic programs can continue to assist families, giving all children their best chance to be their best selves.