Winter 2020

A number of businesses have been created by parents of children with
challenges. Often, they are started to meet their own child’s needs, then
expanded to help families with similar issues. One such new business is
Hop Along Yogi. I am honored to introduce its founder, Laura, the parent
of a child with a hearing impairment, to tell her story.
“On September 18, 2018, we welcomed our second baby girl, “Ellie” into
the world. From day one, we were smitten. She was an angel -- 7lbs 12 oz,
the most beautiful blue eyes, tiny pink fingers. She slept soundly, and she
barely cried. She was perfect. And then, on her second day of life, we learned
that she failed her newborn hearing screen. The nurse informed us that
often the tests were inaccurate and that it was common for babies born via
cesarean to have a buildup of fluid in their ears. She was tested again before
we left the hospital. One ear passed, one failed, so we had to come back
in another week. My husband and I didn’t think much of it as we were
completely enamored and enjoying life with our two daughters.
A week later, we went back for another test. She failed. Again, we chalked it
up to fluid and poor testing circumstances. A month later, we returned for a
more detailed test, an auditory brainstem response or ABR. I’ll never forget
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