Before she reached the age of one, Chris Murphy was diagnosed with profound hearing loss. Chris is the daughter of Bob and Kathy Murphy, one of the three founding families of Ohio Valley Voices. She says, “I feel that by being in the first class we were able to set the mark for other students …
A rambunctious, curious kid that soaks up everything, that’s Jaxton! Jaxton BieryGolick turned two in October and is now enrolled in the Toddler Program. After failing his newborn hearing screens, his parents, Brittany and Keith, learned he has congenital sensorineural severe-to-profound hearing loss in both ears. The BieryGolick’s heard about Ohio Valley Voices from one …
“Sweet and sassy” as mother, Jamie Bryant, describes her three-year-old daughter, Jacy Fishback. At birth, Jacy failed her hearing test. “Two weeks later we found out she has profound bilateral hearing loss that would significantly impact her ability to speak.” During this moment, emotions were all over the place, but hope was not lost. “You …
Haley Gartner is not only an alumni of Ohio Valley Voices (OVV), but also a member of one of the program’s founding families. After contracting a severe case of meningitis at five and a half months old, Haley lost her hearing. “My family considered moving to St. Louis so I could attend the Moog Oral …
Emmaline Pomeroy is a friend to all. Enrolled in OVV’s Exploring Center, she spends her day with Miss Melissa and Miss Selina and her Listening and Spoken Language Provider (LSLP), Miss Ren. Her parents, Blair and Matt Pomeroy, describe her as sassy and sweet all in one. “She loves all things that sparkle and is …
For Brayden Sharp, the sky’s the limit. His mother, Katie, describes Brayden as exceptionally determined. Since he was a baby, he’s been exceeding every medical expectation. Brayden was born on September 3, 2019, in Lexington, Kentucky. Three weeks later, he was diagnosed with profound bilateral hearing loss. Katie vividly remembers that day in the NICU. …
Joyce Tilling grew by leaps and bounds during her time at Ohio Valley Voices—a journey that culminated with her graduation from the program in May. Although her teachers will certainly miss having her in class, they look forward to seeing all that she accomplishes at Loveland Primary School in the fall. When asked what she’s …
Each of us has defining moments in our lives that propel us forward into action. For Carl DeBlasio and his wife, Linda, learning that their granddaughter, Lily, was hearing impaired was one such moment. “I first heard about Ohio Valley Voices from my daughter, Gina, whose friend served on OVV’s Board of Trustees,” Carl recalls. …
Janet Li describes her son Theo Murphy as “a very happy and confident boy.” “He’s goofy, and a bit of a ham, and he likes to make friends with everyone he meets,” she continues. “He loves to laugh but loves making other people laugh even more”—qualities, in short, that make him right at home at …
For many families, Ohio Valley Voices is the lifeline they need after their child has been diagnosed deaf or hard of hearing. Through OVV, the Dressman family learned how to navigate the complexities of communication, education, and personal development, especially during the early years of their son Jack’s life. Jack Dressman was diagnosed profoundly deaf …
