Welcome to the World...

Sydney Marie was born April 29, 2009 at 9:20 p.m. She was so precious and alert when she was born. We couldn't have been happier and more excited to have her in our lives. Her apgar scores were high and everything seemed to check out ok. We were relieved that the delivery went well and she was healthy. We were pretty worn out from all the activities of the day and all the nurses coming and going throughout the night. I remember one of the nurses telling me that Sydney didn't pass her newborn hearing screen. She mentioned that Sydney was crying during the screen so, I didn't think much of it. When it came time to be discharged, they repeated the hearing screen. This time Bernard and I were both in the room and Sydney was sound asleep. We waited anxiously as they conducted the test. Seventeen minutes later the test ended and we were handed a print out with "refer" listed for both ears.

The nurses explained Sydney would have to see an audiologist (audi). Then they excused the failing screen as probably being fluid in the ears and not to worry. I was trying to stay calm but I couldn't help but feel really concerned and worried. This was all uncharted territory for me being our first child, I never knew the insurmountable love I would feel for this little one, mixed with a situation that was totally out of my control. It was a pretty helpless and sinking feeling. I decided to be hopeful and positive and try not to think about the upcoming appointment.