Hometown Brandon - Summer 2015

members. Their journey has been challenging.
Both are grateful for the support and sacrifices of
their parents. Even with caring parents, Suzanne said
that growing up in a silent world was tough. “We
missed out on a lot. My parents carried me to church,
but I didn’t hear the Sunday School lessons, music
or sermons.
We had no interpreters or advanced technology
like what’s available today. We were able to read lips,
but as teenagers we couldn’t listen to music like our
friends, and if you rode with friends after dark, we
didn’t know what they were saying because we
couldn’t see their lips.”
Keith nodded in agreement as he watched Suzanne.
He added how his parents never let his hearing
disability be an excuse for not leading a normal life.
From age four to seven he was enrolled at Magnolia
Speech School where he learned to read lips and
from there attended public schools in Brandon.
He graduated from Delta State on a swimming
scholarship and earned his occupational therapist
degree from Texas Medical School. Suzanne graduated
from University of Southern Mississippi with a graphic
arts degree.
When Suzanne was pregnant with their first child
Ryan, family members were deeply concerned that the
child would be deaf. During the pregnancy, Suzanne
had noticed that the church music (which she couldn’t
hear) made her unborn jump and kick. “I knew he was
hearing the music,” she said, and she was right. Two
years later their second son, Reed, was born – also
with perfect hearing.
Two and a half years ago the Salters were thrilled
with the birth of their third child, Julianna. In the first
few weeks of checkups, doctors detected problems
with the soft spot on her head. They still remember
the somber meeting with Dr. Roland. “He had tears
in his eyes when he diagnosed Julianna’s condition
– Pseudo-Torch Syndrome – only the sixth person in the
world to be diagnosed with the rare disease.”
Keith continued, “He said there would be no quality
of life with high risk for seizures.” Suzanne went home
and cried for three days – nonstop.
Then came the supernatural experience like a
whisper from God. “Stop crying,” He said, “She’s going
to be alright.” From that experience and their strong
foundation of faith in their Creator, they accepted the
challenge of raising the daughter God had given them.
Julianna is in second grade at Stonebridge, a great
reader and loves games on her iPad. She only knows
mobility strictly from a wheelchair or her parents’ arms.
Her parents know they have difficult days ahead.
Julianna has begun to ask why she can’t run like the
others on the playground. Still, their positive attitudes
shine through. They have faith that Julianna’s condition
will improve as they devote hours each day to care
and physical therapy. They also know and accept that
God has given Julianna to them for a purpose.
Ryan is a junior at Brandon High School and on
the soccer team along with his younger brother, Reed,
a ninth grader. They were awarded leadership and
citizenship awards this year as well as high academic
scores. The brothers agree that living with deaf parents
has been different but not a bad thing. “It seems normal
for us,” they said. They also agree that their dad is the
stronger disciplinarian of their parents.
Ryan said about Julianna, “I’m thankful for her. She’s
taught me that we often take too much for granted.
And I’m quick to notice other kids with special needs.”
An essential night light flickers in Julianna’s room if
she calls out in the night. It serves as the Salters’ alarm
system for their daughter. The boys flip the ceiling lights
off and on when they want their parents’ attention.
And when God wants their attention, He simply
whispers...and Keith and Suzanne hear. ■
28 • Summer 2015