Originally Posted by GrendelQ

Same applies to me.

WeeBeastie said: "Before a baby is born the parents think of who they will be, what they will do... "

I don't see how that expectation has been or will be let down by her deafness. I never heard "your child is deaf" = doors slamming shut, brakes squealing. Maybe that's what you are suggesting others have experienced.

Honestly, I've explored every possible limitation to any crazy dreams or wishes I might have entertained about her future prior to knowing Li-Li, and I don't see her deafness as an obstacle, but as a characteristic that sets a different path that most kids her age are taking (and the only thing I can think of as a concern is related to her CIs, not her deafness: as in, crazy midnight musing: hmmm, will she still be a candidate as an astronaut for Mars voyages with a CI? But then, maybe her ciborg-ness will actually be a plus in the application).

Doctors have estimated her potential height based on current growth rate, she's a bit tall for her demographic, but most definitely not anywhere near WNBA tall. Am I grief-stricken? No, I'm not grieving about her height,, the lost potential of playing point for the Dream or the Mystics. And I don't think I'm in denial and damaging Li-Li because I'm not addressing some unknown grief about her "lost height."

Put it in perspective. Hearing or not hearing is important, as is everything about my child, to me. As a mom, I could probably obsess about her little toe, a dimple on her cheek. But I can also see that whole amazing little person and be overcome with gratitude and wonder at the sheer perfection of what comes together. Li-Li is not all about the state of her ears. Why would I grieve when there's so much to celebrate? I've not, and more importantly, she's not lost a thing, as far as I'm concerned.