Good fortune

There are some times in life in which we have to make huge decisions. Most of the time we have no choice but to decide to be able to continue with your life, sometimes though, we don't have to, but choose to make an important decision for ourselves, for our family, for others. Those are even harder because you have put yourself through an elective decision that may have great consequences, but one way or the other, your life will forever be different, and different might be harder but also most probably will be better.

Hay algunas veces en la vida en las que tenemos que tomar decisiones importantes. La mayoria del tiempo no tenemos eleccion sino que nos toca hacerlo para continuar con nuestras vidas, pero a veces, no tenemos porque, pero optamos por tomar grandes decisiones por nosotros, por nuestra familia, por otros. Estas decisiones son aun mas dificiles porque te expones a las consecuencias de una decision opcional, que has elegido, pero de cualquier modo, tu vida sera diferente a partir de ahi, y diferente puede que sea mas complicado pero lo mas probable es que tambien sea major.

I think about the day I had to decide for Luca to get a cochlear implant. It was not an easy one, I had a lot of question marks in my head, a lot of unanswered questions, and a lot of worries about what could be the best for Luca. I evaluated all the options, one by one. I evaluated my life, his life, and what we could make of our lives choosing one way or the other and assuming the risks involved, at one point my decision was made, I was 100% that this is what I wanted for him. It was not easy but once I knew that this is what I wanted for him, then I knew it was a good decision.

Me acuerdo del dia que tuve que decidir que a Luca le pusieran un implante coclear. No fue facil la decision, tenia muchos interrogantes, muchas dudas, y muchas preocupaciones sobre lo que podria ser mejor para Luca. Evalue todas las opciones, una a una. Evalue mi vida, su vida, y lo que podriamos hacer de nuestras vidas eligiendo una u otra opcion y asumiendo los riegos relacionados, en un momento dado tome mi decision, estaba completamente segura de lo que queria para el. No fue facil pero una vez supe lo que queria para el, entonces supe que esta seria una buena decision.

Now, after the hardest days are gone, after the surgeries are part of the past and the initial frustrations are gone, even though we still have a lot of work ahead of us, I think about how amazing these past years have been for the two of us. The amazing people we have met, the incredible experiences we have had and the many happy moments that this challenge has brought to the two of us. Our little successes are huge parties around here, and the simple things, that most people take for granted because in hearing children come naturally, are amazing little things for us. It is a big challenge and therefore the rewards are also big. It is not only good for us: our friends, our family and people around us are also more understanding of children or adults who may be deaf, hard of hearing or have other disabilities or problems. It makes all of us more compassionate and tolerant and I think that is a wonderful thing, especially for children who are just discovering the world.

Ahora, despues de los dias mas dificiles, de las operaciones pasadas y de las frustraciones iniciales, aunque aun nos quede mucho trabajo por delante, pienso en lo increibles que han sido estos ultimos años para los dos. La gente tan maravillosa que hemos encontrado, las experiencias tan increibles que hemos vivido, los momentos felices que este desafio nos ha traido a los dos. Nuestros pequeños triunfos son grandes fiestas por aqui, las cosas sencillas, las que la mayoria de la gente las pasa desapercibidas porque en niños oyentes son cosas que salen de manera natural, son cosas increibles para nosotros. Es un gran desafio y por lo tanto la recompensa tambien es grande. No solo es bueno para nosotros: nuestros amigos, nuestra familia y gente a nuestro alrededor tambien son mas conscientes y comprensibles con los niños que son sordos, o hipoacusos o que tengan otras discapacidades o problemas. Nos hace a todos mas compasivos y tolerantes y pienso que es algo maravilloso, sobretodo para los niños que ahora estan empezado a descubrir el mundo.

I have taken days to write this because it is a strong feeling that I have and it is hard to put it into words. I just want to pass along my happiness for having a child like Luca with me. I have to say I am very fortunate.

He tardado dias en escribir esto porque es un sentimiento muy fuerte el que tengo por dentro y es dificil expresarlo con palabras. Solo queria compartir mi felicidad por tener un niño como Luca conmigo. He decir que me considero muy afortunada.