Quinn Kougl and Jay-Dee Thysen
Quinn “Twinkles” Marie Kougl was three years old, full of sass and attitude, and was born with Treacher Collins Syndrome. Quinn enjoyed playing with her big sister, Nora, and her big brother, Cody, everyday. Quinn was known by many through her family and friends, and the Tour Of Kindness where her mom, Justine, and Quinn would teach others about kindness, acceptance and differences. Quinn’s personality lit up any room she walked into, her eyes were soft and gentle, and her attitude was tough as nails. She had a Twinkle in her eye always and no one ever knew what she was planning next as she always was up to something with her siblings. Quinn loved the ranch life, she loved horses, chasing cows, riding the dirt bike with her dad, riding horses with her mom, and yelling at all those pesky calves in the corrals. However, Quinn struggled daily with her breathing due to a narrow airway. Sadly, Quinn passed away on December 17th, 2018. In Quinn’s short 3 years on this earth, she taught her family everything they could ever need to know about true kindness, true admiration, true strength, and true beauty. Those gifts she gave to her family and friends all around her will be forever remembered in her memories.
Quinn with sister Nora & brother Cody
Shortly after Quinn’s passing in December, Justine contacted the Ear Community Organization wishing to donate Quinn’s hearing devices. One week later, Ear Community member, Heidi Freeman Thysen, reached out to our organization in need of a hearing device as her son, Jay-Dee who was born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, living in South Africa. Jay-Dee’s hearing device was no longer working and Heidi was struggling to obtain another hearing device through their insurance provider. To Heidi’s surprise, Ear Community Executive Director, Melissa Tumblin, informed her that there was a hearing device available for Jay-Dee that same day she had inquired. Melissa Tumblin contacted Justine to let her know that the organization had found a child in need for one of Quinn’s hearing devices. When explaining who the child was to Justine, she began to cry because she realized she new this family and this sweet little boy!
It was a surprise now for Heidi to discover that Jay-Dee would receive the gift of hearing from Quinn, not knowing that Jay-Dee’s new hearing device had belonged to her. While speaking
Jay-Dee and his new friend at school
with Heidi, she expressed how sad Jay-Dee was because as he often felt alone being the only child in his school with Treacher Collins Syndrome. Melissa immediately reached out to a friend of hers in South Africa, named Mark DeKlerk, who also has Treacher Collins Syndrome and has hosted Ear Community picnics in the past for the organization. Somehow, this introduction was meant to be because both Mark DeKlerk and Jay-Dee are members of Scouts. With Mark being a Springbok Scout (the South African equivalent of an Eagle Scout), he looks forward to connecting with Jay-Dee and Heidi someday soon to learn more about his troop. He is also excited to be a role model for Jay-Dee and offer friendship to him as another individual in the same situation. Recently, a new girl started at Jay-Dees school who also has Treacher Collins Syndrome. Jay-Dee is very happy and the two have become friends.
Mark DeKlerk
After introducing Mark to Heidi and Jay-Dee, a friendship immediately evolved and together everyone began keeping an eye out for Quinn’s hearing device once it shipped from Colorado to South Africa. Mark also reached out to Dr. Kelly Schroeder to help donate her time to program and fit Jay-Dee’s donated Oticon Medical Ponto 3 Superpower. Quinn’s hearing device arrived in South Africa in one week, but then was retained for taxes at the post office. However, we were able to get Quinn’s hearing device to Heidi and Jay-Dee easily by working together to get funds to Heidi for the taxes. Thanks to Mark’s friendship, Ear Community was able to wire funds to cover the taxes and he was able to get the funds to Heidi in SA so she could pick up Quinn’s hearing device from the post office. Without Mark’s help and without having made an earlier introduction to Heidi and Jay-Dee, getting Quinn’s hearing device to Jay-Dee would not have been so easy. As they say, “it takes a village!” Thanks to meeting other families through support group communities and organizations like Ear Community, friendships that are made help us to help others. “I believe that Quinn is still making friends and looking out for other children from Heaven and that we were able to get her hearing device to Jay-Dee so easily because she was looking out for Jay-Dee,” said Melissa Tumblin.
Jay-Dee and Dr. Kelly Schroeder
When Heidi finally received the donated Oticon Medical Ponto 3 Superpower, she was overcome with emotion once she discovered that Jay-Dee’s donated hearing device was once Quinn’s. Justine had included a card and a nice letter about Quinn that had accompanied a letter from Ear Community explaining how this gift of hearing came about. Both, Justine and Heidi, are happy that Quinn’s ears went on to help Jay-Dee hear better and that Quinn was able to help give back to another child with Treacher Collins Syndrome in need. This is exactly what Quinn would have wanted and something that she would have done when wanting to help others and promote kindness and giving.
Ear Community is happy that Jay-Dee received the gift of hearing thanks to Quinn and her family. We hope that her Ponto ear will go on to help Dee-Jay hear his best for many years to come. A special thank you to the Kougl family for making this beautiful donation to help Jay-Dee. A special thank you to Mark DeKlerk for helping a child in need and by helping work together with Ear Community to help get Quinn’s hearing device to Heidi and Jay-Dee safely and quickly. Thank you to Dr. Kelly Schroeder for donating her time and services to help program Quinn’s hearing device for Jay-Dee. Thank you for the friendships that were formed in our support groups over the years and for the love and passion of wanting to pay it forward to help give back to others. I am sure Quinn is smiling up in Heaven and will be watching over Jay-Dee’s Ponto for years to come.
This is what makes a community, brings families together in similar situations, and develops beautiful friendships. We are so happy for Jay-Dee to be hearing his best now!
Melissa Tumblin
Ear Community
www.EarCommunity.org
Ear Community is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that helps Microtia and Atresia families around the world. Ear Community is proud to host six family picnics in the United States this year! Microtia and Atresia, Hemifacial Microsomia, Goldenhar Syndrome, and Treacher Collins families…please join us!
