Presley Fam

Listening to my Child that does not have a voice.


I have two amazing children. My oldest Collin was born with a very rare and life threatening illness called trichothiodystrophy. He has been fighting since the day that he was born. He has been in and out of the hospital, had more surgeries, and more tests than any sweet child should have to go through. The amazing part is that it tends to bother me more than it bothers him. After receiving tests results from an MRI one of my worst fears was confirmed. “White matter has taken over the T2 area of his brain. This controls communication. This is most likely why your son has gone deaf. This also affects his speech.” Knowing the answer but needing to hear it for myself I asked “Do you mean he wont ever talk?” “ I am sorry but most likely not.” The thought of not ever hearing “I love you mommy” was devastating. So, like other hard days I broke down, cried, and grieved for this event that I would never share with him.
Fast forward to a several moths ago in my van. Collin and Regan, my three and half year old daughter, were sitting in the back. I asked them both, like I always do “What do you want to do today?” Regan started giving me her list of things and then I said “Well, Collin what do you want to do?” I do this knowing that I am not going to get a response but wanting to include him anyway. Well, this particular morning was very different. All of a sudden from the back in a deep, sweet voice I hear “ I want to go to Disney Land!” “What!” I said “I want to go to Disney Land!” Regan said again for the second time in her very best deep voice pretending to be her brother. We giggled and had fun as she continued to answer questions for him. It was amazing to see how well she knew her brother.

Regan has continued to “speak” for brother since that day in the back of my car. I didn’t truly hear Collin until one afternoon when we where playing. Collin and I were wrestling, tickling, and having fun. He was looking at me with the biggest smile as he was belly laughing. Then all of a sudden I heard “ I love you mommy”. Yes, it might have come out of my daughter’s mouth BUT they were my son’s words! It was amazing to hear my son tell me that he loved me for the first time.

It is amazing how much we can hear as we take time to listen. With God anything is possible.