The Doak Family
Bronwyn and Andrew’s boys, Eamon and Kealan, were diagnosed as being profoundly deaf as infants.
Bronwyn and Andrew’s boys, Eamon and Kealan, were diagnosed as being profoundly deaf as infants. However, Bronwyn believed there was more going on, as Eamon was having difficulties with his balance. It wasn’t until Bronwyn and Andrew underwent genetic testing themselves when Eamon was three and Kealan was two, and two letters later, that the boys were diagnosed with Usher Syndrome Type 1D. Bronwyn said they received one letter which informed then that there was no genetic cause to the boy’s deafness, only to receive another two weeks later, confirming that the boys had Usher Syndrome.
“That was just a horrible, horrible couple of months … I couldn’t cope … I just thought this is just too much for us.”
However, despite this extremely challenging way of receiving a diagnosis and a few unhelpful doctors, Bronwyn was able to bring together a team of professionals to support the boys. She found ophthalmologists with expertise in Usher Syndrome, as well as psychologists and occupational therapists through speaking to other families with Usher Syndrome. All these people came together to tell Eamon and Kealan about the Syndrome and what they may experience as they grow up. The family has always been transparent with the boys about the Syndrome and have found this strategy to really work for them and helped them prepare for vision loss.
“My boys are beautiful advocates for people with vision impairment. They will tell any person who wants know why they use a cane.”
Open communication between the family has helped Eamon and Kealan become advocates for themselves as well as others with Usher Syndrome. In 2019, Eamon spoke in front of Parliament in Canberra about Usher Syndrome and is a 2020 Telethon ambassador. Bronwyn encourages others to get their kids involved in things like sports and social activities early on. The family have also found it helpful to begin cane training whilst the boy’s vision is still good, so they can call on this skill easier down the track.
Bronwyn encourages parents to get in contact with other parents within the Usher community, as they can be fantastic sources of support and knowledge for managing the NDIS and finding supportive medical professionals.
“Give them a voice to advocate for themselves as well out there”
“I never, ever say you can’t do it until you’ve tried it”
Kate Morell
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Trish Brice
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Lara Miller
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Daniel Talko
Daniel Talko Daniel grew up in a small Victorian town of Bairnsdale. At the age of 21 he was diagnosed with Usher Syndrome Type 2a. Forced to choose between waiting for blindness, deafness and disability or a life well lived Daniel took off around the world to find...
The Schmid Family
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The Sandles Family
The Sandles Family Maggie was diagnosed with deafness at eight months of age, after many months of her mother, Bronwyn, telling medical professionals that she believed Maggie was deaf.Maggie is eighteen years old and finished high school in 2020. She loves sport and...
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