Give Me a Sign(60)
“So we’re seeing if he’s a candidate for a cochlear implant.” She stares off toward the trees.
“I guess. Well, tons of kids here have one.” To me, CIs kind of seem interchangeable with hearing aids in some ways, but they’re definitely more involved, especially the setup.
“It’s a major surgery,” my mom says, presumably wondering why my reaction isn’t bigger. “Well, it’s supposed to be ‘minimally invasive,’ but it would still take at least six weeks for his head to recover before they could turn it on.”
“Can he just stick with two hearing aids, then?” My brother and I both had a dip in hearing at our annual exams. I’d hope this would get my family to take learning ASL seriously. But instead, my parents are jumping right to surgery.
“The hearing aid isn’t working well enough for that ear anymore.”
“Then he could go without it?”
She shakes her head. “He needs it to hear us.”
I can tell that this is the end of the discussion, which tracks. While Max and I are free to attend Deaf camp, we do live in the hearing world. Our school accommodations are based on using speech and hearing aids. They do not include services using ASL and interpreters. I’m sure the doctors are pushing for the surgery as the next logical step, proclaiming it’s the best option.
But maybe it is? In some ways, surgery could be seen as the simpler option, since it’s unlikely that everyone around Max would learn an entire new language to communicate with him. Especially since he’d have to also learn the language himself.
I can see both sides of the debate, and it’s not an easy decision. I know what my own preference would be, but it’s him going under the knife, not me.
So what does Max think?
* * *
After hours, I wait for Isaac at the firepit. Mackenzie is there by the picnic table with her laptop, editing her latest video.
She waves me over. “Would you mind taking a look?”
“Sure.” I move to sit beside her. “Oh, you included captions this time! That’s great. Having captions for both the speaking and sign portions makes it accessible all around.”
She seems eager for me to hit Play. “It certainly takes longer to get content up . . . but it’s worth it.”
This video must’ve been filmed during Mackenzie’s afternoon break, because she’s standing against the wooden wall of the dance hall with the sun shining brightly in front of her.
“Hey, friends!” she says in her typical cheery opening. “This is a short update to let you all know that I’m still alive and loving life at summer camp. If you have the spare means to do so, I really hope you’ll check out this fundraiser.” She points up to the left, where I assume she’ll be adding the link to our video. “Help us save this incredible place.
“Now, I also have some news. There are going to be some big, exciting changes coming to my channel soon. I can’t wait to share more, but for now, keep an eye out for this very special update. And if you have any suggestions about what you’d love to see on my channel, feel free to drop them in the comments. Love you all! And remember to like and subscribe!” Of course, she ends the video by waving the ASL “I love you” sign toward the camera.
“That looks good,” I say. “What are some of the other changes you’re going to do?”
Mackenzie shakes her head. “I’m not sure yet. Buying some time, and kind of hoping there’ll be some good feedback in the comments.”
“That’d be nice.” I notice that the tab for the fundraiser is open. “Have there been any updates?”
“We’re almost at the smaller summer repairs goal. Hopefully my followers can push us over that one at least.”
“Yeah, fingers crossed!” But I fall short of excitement. We still need more money in order to meet the main fundraiser goal and ensure that Gray Wolf can continue to exist. Repairing the cabins is helpful only if we’re able to house campers in them next summer. “Yeah, one step at a time, I guess.”
“Oh, by the way, it seems like Blake has a new friend,” Mackenzie adds.
“Really? Does that mean she and Honey are officially besties?”
Mackenzie laughs. “I meant your brother. We were paired for small-group activities with Bobby’s boys this afternoon. Blake and Max dominated in the obstacle races.”
“Interesting,” I say, drawing out the word. “Well, I’m glad he’s fitting in at camp.”
It makes sense that Max would gravitate toward other speakers at camp, but I want him to experience ASL this summer, and I’m not sure he’ll be getting that from Blake. And with Bobby as his counselor, he doesn’t have to work with the communication barrier on a daily basis, as he would if he were with Jaden’s or Isaac’s group. I’ll have to see how I can encourage him to give ASL a try.
* * *
Tuesday is sports day, so for the afternoon activity everyone hangs out on the big open field with footballs, volleyballs, soccer balls, baseballs, Hula-Hoops, and a whole assortment of other playground staples. Phoebe wants to sit in the shade and make more bracelets, and I’m happy to oblige.
I’m tying a bracelet around Phoebe’s wrist when Isaac walks over and asks, “Where’s your brother?”