Melissa McClellan, Melissa Tumblin, and Melissa Shemanski of Ear Community at the 2019 EHDI in Chicago

The Ear Community Organization had another successful year at the EHDI (Early Hearing Detection Hearing) Meeting in Chicago this week! This was Ear Community’s fourth time being an exhibitor at EHDI and the only organization to educate on educate about all options for Microtia and Atresia and on Microtia and Atresia in general. We helped update and educate many visitors to our booth from audiology students to audiologists, pediatricians, speech therapists, teachers of the deaf, public health representatives, early intervention providers and more! We enjoyed learning more about the latest in bone conduction hearing devices from our friends at Cochlear Americas about Baha 5 and the SoundArc band, Medel and the new ADHEAR and Bone bridge and Oticon Medical and Ponto 3 Superpower.

We visited the Phonak booth to listen through the Roger FM system and met up with our friends from the HLAA (Hearing Loss Association of America). Ear Community nominated Dr. Tina Childress as our audiology professional who has made a difference for the Antonia Brancia Maxon Award for EHDI Excellence. We learned more about Cued Speech and ASL along with many other helpful resources for signing. We attended our state stakeholder meetings, attended presentations on the latest regarding hearing loss and research, met up with Rachel Coleman of Signing Time, and connected with four of Ear Community’s board members. We had a wonderful time representing and learning and even made time for a Chicago dog. ❤️👂❤️

The Ear Community Organization
www.EarCommunity.org

Dr. Leslie Gonsette (right) with friend and volunteer, Kati Capozzi, during the Physician’s Ball in Alaska on Saturday, January 26th, 2019

On, Saturday night, January 26th, Dr. Leslie Gonsette of the Alaska Hospitalist Group, hosted The Community Wide Medical Staff Ball in Anchorage. The physician’s ball was a hit thanks to the collaborations of Providence Alaska Medical Center, Alaska Regional Hospital, Mat-Su Regional Medical Center and Alaska Native Medical Center! Over 180 people attended with nearly $18,000 being raised that profited four health care related charities:
EAR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION –  www.EarCommunity.org/donate
ALASKA CHILDRENS TRUST –  www.AlaskaChildrensTrust.org
STONE SOUP GROUP – https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/stonesoupgroup
MAT-SU HEALTH SERVICES – www.MSHSAK.org

Dr. Gonsette, is a board certified physician in both internal medicine and pediatrics.  Dr. Gonsette says she, “had a wonderful time organizing the ball and hopes to coordinate this event again next year!” Dr. Gonsette realizes how important charity organizations can be to families and to the community.   She also knows how important raising funds for them is in order to help keep them doing the good they do in our communities. Dr. Gonsette was happy to help give back!

I will always remember the day when I met Dianne Goberis. I was a scared mom trying to advocate for my youngest daughter, Ally, who was born with Microtia and hearing loss (due to Aural Atresia). I was looking for a preschool program that would provide my daughter with the help she needed as a child who was hard of hearing. To my surprise, our early intervention speech therapist informed me of a couple of options nearby, one including the program that Dianne managed at Mountain View Elementary School. One day, Ally’s speech therapist scheduled a visit in Dianne’s classroom for us to observe in. When I met Dianne, she was so kind…taking time to speak with me, explaining about her preschool classroom and program for children who were D/HH. Her classroom was bright and cheery. As I watched Dianne’s students learning and carrying on, one little girl walked into the classroom a few moments later. Dianne introduced me to this little girl and said “this is Illi.” Dianne explained that Illi just had her picture taken for her birthday and for the library birthday book program. Here was this sweet little four year old kindly saying “hi” while signing her name at the same time.

As I left Dianne’s classroom that day, I couldn’t help but feel emotional. You see, Illi had Microtia and Atresia just like my daughter! I was so relieved and happy to see a little girl who was just a little older than my daughter and who was so confident and happy. My mind fast forwarded years in advance imagining my daughter being just as confident and carrying on just like Illi. I went home and cried tears of happiness. Not only did I think Dianne’s preschool classroom was amazing, but I could not believe the odds of finding another child in this classroom who was just like my Ally. I had been told that Dianne’s program was highly sought after as one of the top programs within the school district that offered amazing D/HH services because Dianne was the best. I was told that other teachers even referred to her as “Goberis” because she was in the trenches and did an amazing job with results. I also learned that many families would relocate from other states just to move into the very neighborhood where Dianne Goberis teaches so their children who are D/HH could attend Mountain View Elementary School and receive the help they needed from Dianne. I quickly realized how blessed my family was after having lived in our neighborhood for the past 12 years never knowing that one day I would have a child that would be born with hearing loss and be able to benefit from a top school just down the road from our home.

As Ally transitioned from her IFSP to her IEP, it was time to inquire about an opening in Dianne’s classroom. Now, Ally “only” had unilateral hearing loss as some would say, but she was experiencing speech delays along with some additional delays at the time. The school that Dianne taught at was also not our home school. So, I was worried that Ally would not qualify for Dianne’s program. However, Ally’s early intervention team reached out to Dianne to schedule a visit. I was so impressed that Dianne took the time to come to my home to observe Ally during this visit and determine if she should be placed in her classroom. Thankfully, Dianne believed that Ally would benefit more in her classroom where she could receive the extra help she needed in addition to receiving helpful services for her hearing loss and we lived within the school district. This was just the beginning of something far more amazing than I would have ever imagined and how one teacher and her program would touch my family’s heart.

During the three years that Ally spent in Dianne’s preschool classroom, I watched my little girl grow and shine. Dianne was amazing!  She always took the time to listen to my concerns when I was worried about Ally and she would gently offer helpful suggestions or thoughts that would help guide me on how to help Ally. Each day, Dianne’s classroom was full of new adventure and excitement for my daughter and her peers. When picking up Ally from school, I would often witness Dianne singing fun songs like “five little speckled frogs” with the kids and playing fun games with them. Her class celebrated parties together and the kids made fun things with food items like sandwich school buses with Oreos for wheels. The kids learned about sensory and touch with all kinds of things to feel with their hands, from flour dough to beans in a bin and shaving cream. One of Ally’s favorite adventures in Dianne’s class was camping week (when a tent and sleeping bags were set up in front of the main entrance of the school). Camping week also came with crock pots of chili and baked beans with corn bread to help celebrate the wild west with the kids dressed up as cowboys and cowgirls. Dianne and her staff worked hard to organize preschool performances for families each year – from a rodeo performance with the kids dressed up wearing cowboy hats to a circus performance taking place under the big top (the parachute), with all of the kids being vocal and signing, together. They were such a joy to watch!  As Ally got older, she was included in even more fun activities and programs that Dianne was very much behind creating including D/HH Track and Field Day, visiting Signing Santa, signing choir as a “little” and taking field trips to the Arvada Arts Center to see performances where sign was present and available.

Dianne always made sure her students had the best. One year, I remember a local Mexican restaurant raised and donated $50,000 for Dianne’s program! I know Dianne knew exactly how she wanted to apply those funds for the kids because I remember her excitement for the new interactive itouch screen she was able to get for the kids to help them learn more. My daughter loved that itouch screen! This was just one of the helpful tools Dianne was able to obtain for the classroom.  During the years Ally was in Dianne’s classroom, a few more children with Microtia and Atresia were placed in Dianne’s class which was amazing in itself. In fact, there were nearly ten children in the school at one time who were born with Microtia and Atresia. When I would tell people about the school that Ally goes to, I would always talk about how amazing Dianne was and about all of the wonderful programs she had created to help children who have hearing loss. I would often say that my family was blessed and that we live in our own bubble.

While most of the days for Ally and her classmates were happy and positive, I noticed how other days were probably not always fun days and smiles for Dianne and her staff. I quickly realized the amount of patients and commitment that Dianne and her staff showed while working with and helping all of the children in her classroom on so many different levels. There were days where Dianne spent time trying to console crying and screaming students during meltdowns to finding better ways to connect with the children who experienced fears in the classroom, helping them to cope and overcome those fears. There were days of having to help clean up bathroom accidents from some of the kids too and still Dianne would manage to go on with a smile. Dianne’s love for children was so genuine. Dianne helped educate so many children during her 30 years of teaching. She helped children with special needs in addition to those with hearing loss during her career at Mountain View Elementary school. I truly believe Dianne loved all of these children because I know she loved my Ally. Dianne made sure her students were their happiest in her classroom. She provided them with every opportunity to learn and how to be themselves. Dianne helped these children, including my Ally, realize that they can do anything in life as individuals who are D/HH.

Dianne helped me realize that there are truly amazing teachers in our world.  Some that will surprise you with what they can do to help our children thrive. Dianne was one of these amazing teachers! Since getting to know Dianne, I now have a deep respect for teachers of the D/HH. I also realize that Dianne was one of the angels we had here on earth, one who went above and beyond to help others. There is no doubt in my mind that Dianne had a vision when she started teaching and she took that vision to the highest level from helping create so many these programs that Mountain View Elementary School has now because of her. I am grateful for my daughter to have been given the opportunity to learn sign while at school and to be provided the help she needs through amazing programs. I can only imagine how many policies and procedures Dianne also helped implement to help make things better for students over the years. Dianne has helped advocate for so many children and their families in IEPs and 504 Plan meetings in addition to helping teach families how to help advocate for their children on their own. Dianne was an inspiration and a leader who helped pave the way for D/HH teachers. So many men and women, some even past students, have gone on to become teachers of the D/HH and focus on special education because of Dianne being such an amazing role model. Dianne was also recognized for many awards for her leadership and for the difference she made in the D/HH community. With Dianne being such an amazing advocate for so many families over the years, I can only imagine what an amazing advocate she was for her own children and family. Dianne touched many hearts at school, through many community organizations, and with her work at Marion Downs. Dianne’s legacy will live on through all of the amazing teachers, staff, and friends that she knew and worked with for decades to come. Maybe someday, an award for the school district will be created in Dianne’s name for outstanding D/HH teacher of the year. Dianne was such an amazing inspiration and such a dedicated individual to helping others.

This is just one of the many stories that I am sure has been shared about Dianne and about how many hearts she touched of so many families over the years. Thank you for all that you did to help our children, including my Ally, over all these years.  And, thank you for all of the amazing teachers that you leave behind who continue to share your inspiration at Mountain View. Ally and I know we are in excellent hands thanks to you, Dianne!
While you may be gone, you will never be forgotten.
We will miss you, Dianne!
– Melissa and Ally Tumblin and Family

Dianne passed away on January 16^th, 2019, at the age of 59, peacefully with her family by her side after losing her fight to
pancreatic cancer. On January 26^th, Dianne’s family, friends, students, and co-workers joined Dianne at a beautiful service honoring her life, traveling from near and far. It was said many times that Dianne lived a full and happy life and that her smile was contagious and was one that would light up a room. Dianne was one of the kindest people alive. Dianne was loved by so many who knew her in life. Our hearts go out to Dianne’s family for this terrible loss. Thank you for sharing your Dianne with all of us. Some of Dianne’s former students, parents of students, current and retired teachers, interpreters, and a retired principal came together to sign a song to honor our beloved Dianne. Thank you to Dianne’s friend and co-worker, Jenna Harris, for organizing this tribute to our Dianne.

Here is the link to the video, “Heaven was needing a hero,” by  Jo Dee Messina

Here are some memories of Dianne that made my family smile:

Duong and his family receiving his 2 newly donated Oticon Medical Ponto 3 Superpowers in Hanoi, Vietnam on December 22nd, 2018.

Meet Duong, a very sweet little boy who lives in Hanoi, Vietnam who was born with Microtia and Atresia of both of his ears. Duong is almost 3 and lives with his mother, Co, his father, and other family members where they have fought to find resources to help Duong hear his best and have the best access to sound.

Co first reached out to Ear Community through our Facebook support group page, Microtia and Atresia Support Group, during the Summer of 2018.  Co was looking for resources to help her son, such as early intervention services but none were available in her area.  We were quickly touched by Duong’s story and how he has struggled to hear his mother, playmates, and family member’s voices.  Co then applied to Ear Community for assistance with hearing devices for Duong when she didn’t know what else to do.

As soon as Co learned that Ear Community’s board had voted to help Duong obtain two Hearing devices, the lengthy process of helping get Duong’s newly donated Oticon Medical Ponto 3 Superpower hearing devices soon began.  As they say, “it takes a village!”  Thank you to audiologists Patrick Tan (Oticon Medical) for program Duong’s new Pontos and ship them to Flavio who then traveled to Singapor to get Duong’s Pontos to him in Vietnam.  Once Duong’s Pontos arrived in Vietnam,  a special thank you to Thanh Thanh Mai for fitting Duong’s new Pontos for him in Hanoi.  On December 22^nd, 2018, Duong was fitted with his two newly donated Oticon Medical Ponto 3 Superpower hearing devices – just in time for Christmas!  Duong and his family traveled over 100 kilometers away from his home to get to Thanh Thanh Mai’s audiology office.  At first, Duong was a little nervous about the headband and the devices, but he quickly became excited once he began hearing everyone’s voices. Co, Duong’s mother, could not say ‘thank you’ enough – she wishes to thank all of the people at Oticon Medical who have helped along this journey, the members on our Facebook support group, everyone at Ear Community, and a very special thank you to Melissa and Heidi for being so instrumental in helping Duong hear with two Oticon Ponto 3’s.

Duong’s heart-warming story reminds us that Christmas truly is a time of giving back and helping those around us.  Ear Community is honored to be a part of helping so many families around the world be able to connect through sound.  Thank you so much to Oticon Medical, for partnering with Ear Community and giving us the opportunity to change lives.  Thank you to Patrick Tan, Flavio, and Thanh Thanh Mai for your tireless efforts to get Duong’s devices programmed and hand-delivered to Hanoi. This is the very meaning of giving back and going that extra mile to help someone in need.  Thank you to everyone at Oticon Medical for showing Duong and his family so much love and support!  Ear Community applauds the passion and effort that was involved with these individuals in helping another child hear better, so Duong can hear the way life was intended.

Duong looks forward to hearing all of the wonders of the world around him, playing with his friends and being able to hear the conversations and jokes he can now be a part of, hearing his parents as they sing and talk to him, and of course hearing his classes in school when he is old enough to go.

A very special thank you to Alan Raffauf, Vice President of Marketing and Operations for Oticon Medical US, for choosing to donate the two new Oticon Medical Ponto 3 Superpower hearing devices to Ear Community so that they could be donated to Duong to help him hear better. Thank you to Beverly Ostrowski, Director of Customer Service, with Oticon Medical for helping ship Duong’s hearing devices.

Thank you for everyone’s support and for helping Ear Community continue with its mission of helping individuals with Microtia and Atresia. Oticon Medical believes in helping individuals with hearing loss so that they can live a better quality of life. Oticon Medical is a well-respected international hearing device manufacturer that is a part of the “William Demant Group [which has] 100-plus years of experience in audiology and sound processing and established manufacturing and logistics infrastructure.”

We wish every happiness for Duong and his family and are so happy that he was able to get such a wonderful Christmas present!
Thank you from everyone at Ear Community
www.EarCommunity.org

Hazel Shelton donated her hearing device to Marvin so he could hear better in November 2018.

Meet Hazel Shelton, a sweet little 4.5 year old girl who was born with Microtia and Atresia.  Recently, Hazel upgraded to a new hearing device just before moving with her family from the United States to live in the UK.  When it came time for Hazel to upgrade her hearing device, she and her family wanted to make sure that her gently used hearing device went to someone in need.  Hazel and her mom, Jillian Shelton, know how important it is to hear your best and when Hazel’s family began looking into organizations to donate her hearing device to, they wanted to donate to an organization that not only helps children who were born with Microtia and Atresia, but one that would allow Hazel to help another child in need.  Luckily, Hazel’s family knew about the Ear Community Organization and decided to donate her gently used Baha 5 to Ear Community to help another child hear better.

The Ear Community Organization enjoys partnering with local hearing loss organizations and audiologists to help children and adults who have hearing loss whenever possible.  The Marion Downs Center in Denver, Colorado is one of the local hearing loss treatment centers that Ear Community enjoys partnering with.  This past September, Ear Community donated a few hearing devices to the Marion Downs Center, along with the hearing device from Hazel’s family.  This November, the Ear Community Organization was contacted by Dr. Sandra Gabbard, of the Marion Downs Center, who reached out to Ear Community about a patient who was born with bilateral Microtia and Atresia who had never been aided before and who was struggling to hear.  This little boy is Marvin, who is nine years old and since birth, has never been able to hear his best.  Marvin was also in need as his family is from Honduras and are in the process of moving to the United States.  Without insurance coverage or money to help cover services for a hearing device, Hazel’s gently used Baha 5 was gifted to Marvin.  A special thank you to Dr. Gabbard for helping program and fit Marvin’s donated Baha 5 so he could hear better.  Dr. Gabbard stated that “Marvin is now able to hear normal loudness speech for the first time with his BAHA!  Being born with bilateral Microtia and Atresia has prevented him from hearing his best for the past 8 years of his life. What a gift!”  Thank you also to Cochlear Americas for donating a black soft band head band for Marvin to wear his donated Baha 5 on.

Marvin being fitted with his donated Baha 5 from Hazel so he could hear better

Thank you to Hazel for donating her hearing device to Marvin and for helping give him the opportunity to hear better than he has ever heard before.   We know that Hazel and her family are thankful to have been able to help give back to another child in need who was born with Microtia and Atresia just like Hazel.  During this time of year, when many people help give back and give thanks, giving and donating is what makes it so special and being able to help make a difference in someone’s life.  Thank you so very much to Hazel and Jillian Shelton and Family for choosing to help Marvin hear better with Hazel’s hearing device!  Happy Thanksgiving and the Ear Community Organization, along with Marvin and his family, are thankful for you!

We are so happy for Marvin to have received the gift of hearing thanks to Hazel and for Hazel wanting to donate her hearing device to another child in need!  Thank you for making Marvin’s Thanksgiving this year extra special with sound, Hazel!
Thank you!
Ear Community
www.EarCommunity.org