Just Deaf

"It was really kind of a relief when we heard Emiel was deaf."

"Would he ever be able to hear music, or the rain beating against the window? That was quite important to me."

"What can I do now?"

"It's important for children to be able to be themselves."

"Now that I see how happy they are, I worry a lot less."

"I love having a deaf child, that's hard to explain."

"Our parents gave us confidence: you're great, just the way you are."

"The realization really hit us: we're responsible for this now."

"I think bonding and interacting with your child is the most important thing."

"At first, very small things could make me incredibly sad."

"We're religious, and I immediately noticed this having an effect on my faith."

"You end up in this medical scene, I almost forget to enjoy having my child."

"Sometimes I feel belittled as a deaf person."

"Your first thought is: the world is ending. But it's not ending, another world just opens itself up."

"The first year was very busy, so many appointments. We barely had time to enjoy it."