Look out Jenny McCarthy! If there is one person, one "Mother Warrior" who has always encouraged me, provided me with necessary info and links, offered her experience and assistance unconditionally - with great love and passion...that would be VAL BLAKELY! And so, it is with great emotion and pride that I share with everyone who doesn't already know, that VAL has written a new book entitled I'M ALL EARS together with her beloved Speech Therapist Tamara Harrison. We have all seen the incredible Blakely children, a true testimony to the professionalism of Tamara.
I've had the book for about three months...*smile* (can't believe I managed to keep my big trap shut) and feel privileged to have been asked to review this inspirational project that not only tells Val's story with Gage and Brook, but which provides extremely useful information for families raising Deaf children. This was what I wrote:
I'M ALL EARS shares a family's journey in deafness- cochlear implant style and provides readers with a very personal account of difficult decisions, daily struggles and lifestyle changes. This insightful and informative book demonstrates how the cochlear implant combined with a strong family support system and creative and stimulating Auditory-Verbal Therapy has enabled the Blakely childrne to conquer a predominantly hearing world and its many challenges with glowing, yet determined smiles on their faces.
The most beautiful part of the book aside from obviously Gage and Brook is that Val and Tamara have created an important resource for parents of Deaf children by defining difficult terms, offering suggestions for quality Auditory-Verbal Therapy and providing access to support groups. I am honored that she included RALLY CAPS in that list of resources.
Click here to purchase I'M ALL EARS.
Click here to read her official blog announcement. Here is an excerpt from her blog:
I've been asked in the past to please give tissue warnings in some of my blog posts so for those of you who know us personally, this might touch your heart in the beginning so I do give a slight tissue warning for the first half of the book. I will note however that there are stories in there to make you laugh also! It's not intended to be a sad book, just a book of my travel from ignorance to advocacy on this road my children have led me on. It's been hard, it's been amazing, and it's taught me so much! I planned a perfect picnic but didn't consider the weather. Sometimes, it's just better to have your picnic despite the weather and I hope that this book will serve it's purpose...to help some family somewhere, know that they are not alone.
To view this video with closed-captioning, click here.
CONGRATULATIONS VAL AND FAMILY!!!!!!!!!
