- Pin it
- SubscribeUnsubscribe
- Embed
Janine Castillo Marsh hasn't added a story.
PLEASE NOTE CONTRIBUTIONS VIA THIS SITE HAS BEEN PAUSED. ALL SUPPORTERS KINDLY CONTACT US AT JANINE.MARSH@YAHOO.COM OR RORYMARSH@YAHOO.COM FOR FURTHER DIRECTIONS ON HOW YOU CAN MAKE A CONTRIBUTION .
Justin Marsh, the son of Rory and Janine Castillo Marsh, is a loving three-year-old Jamaican boy who was born deaf. Due to Justin's warm and friendly nature his father and I (mommy) mistook his lack of speech development to simply being a speech delay. However, when Justin was 1 ½ years old, he was diagnosed with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears. We felt like a part of our world had shattered, and our hearts broke as we looked into the future of our beautiful baby boy and foresaw the challenges, disadvantages, missed opportunities, and discrimination he would face as a deaf person.
Two weeks later I realized I was actually mourning over Justin's deafness; many days I felt like crawling under the covers and staying there. But I had to go on for my family, and Justin needed me! It is only through the grace of God that I got the strength and direction to go through everyday.
One month after the initial diagnosis Justin was fitted with hearing aids, but these eventually proved to be futile. As time passed his hearing loss became more profound, and he soon stopped responding to environmental sounds with his hearing aids. The two or three words he had begun to say after he had started to wear his hearing aids became a faint memory, and his speech - as we had anticipated - did not materialize.
After almost 2 years of being fitted with the hearing aids Justin has not developed speech. In September 2015, he was taken to the Barton G. Kids Hear Now Cochlear Implant Family Resource Center at the University of Miami Ear Institute. Cochlear implants were recommended for him. Imagine! A device that can actually allow him to hear and have the opportunity to speak and maximize his full potential...and Justin wants to speak! He exhibits this especially when he interacts with his brothers as they play - he would babble on end, or he pretends to speak on the phone, or he simply tries to form word with his lips from seeing us talk.
We are now determined to give Justin this amazing opportunity to get bilateral cochlear implants (that is for both ears). However, his insurance in Jamaica doesn’t cover his condition. The cost of one cochlear device, surgery, and hospital fees for one ear is US$65,000 without insurance. The blessing of the Lord has provided donations for one cochlear device and surgery fee costs - leaving the balance of hospital fee of US$10,000 for one ear. The full cost for the device, surgery, and hospital fee for the second ear of US$65,000 is still needed. Therefore a total of $75,000 is our target to get the surgery done the last week in June 2016.
The surgery is only one leg of the journey, as temporary relocation to Miami for 2 years is required for him to receive the necessary auditory verbal therapy needed for him to learn to hear with the cochlear device. This type of therapy is not available in Jamaica, but whatever the sacrifice is - it's worth it.
This journey is all about giving Justin the opportunity to be all God made him to be. The first 5 years of a child's life is critical for language/speech development. Therefore, time is of essence to do this procedure quickly!!! We are kindly seeking your help in making this a possibility. The support of all who are able and would like to contribute in giving Justin a chance to hear and speak are welcome to join in this endeavour.
Your kind donation is invaluable. Every dollar counts! May the Lord truly bless your hearts!
If anyone is having difficulty contributing through PayPal, kindly contact us via email: janine.marsh@yahoo.com or rorymarsh@yahoo.com for bank account information.
So, what is a Cochlear Implant and How does it work???...Read on to find out!
Hearing Restoration
Cochlear implants are the only medical technology able to functionally restore one of the five senses. Unlike hearing aids, which amplify sound, cochlear implants are electronic devices that bypass the damaged part of your inner ear so that you can hear your best.
Highlights
See all activity74Activity
Delete media item?
Delete this item from the media gallery? It will also be deleted from any related story update.
Set as ?
The campaign video will appear in social media and email.
The campaign cover picture will appear in social media and email.
The will appear at the top of your campaign page and in social media and email.
Reset ?
It will be removed from the top of your campaign and won't be used as default in social media and email. The will remain in the media gallery.
Embed
Share a link
Delete update
Delete this story update?
Any pictures or videos will remain in the campaign's media gallery.
Report campaign
Report submitted
Thank you. We take reports like yours very seriously. Our goal is to keep the community safe.
Please know that we may contact you for more information, but that we won't notify you personally of our decision. If the campaign remains available within a few days, it's likely that we determined it not to be in violation of our policies.
Thank you. We've already received your previous report. If the campaign remains available within a few days, it's likely that we determined it not to be in violation of our policies.
Tell us about the problem. Please fill in both fields below.
Record a video
Upload a video
Nothing grabs attention for your cause like a personal video. Take a minute or two to record one now. Record a short video message of support. Or upload one from your device. You can preview or redo your video before you post it.
Nothing grabs attention for your cause like a personal video. Upload a short video message of support. Upload a short video message of support. Or record one right now.
- Most effective video length: about a minute.
- Maximum length: 5 min.
- You can preview or redo your video before you post it.
Heads up! The existing video will be replaced.
Email your friends
Join our team
Tell people why our cause matters to you. Your personal message will encourage others to help. Easy, effective, optional.
Say it in video
Short personal videos by supporters like you are incredibly powerful. Record one right now and you'll help us raise more money. Easy, optional, effective.
Add a personal goal
Set a personal fundraising goal. You'll encourage more contributions if you do. And rest easy. There's no obligation to achieve your goal or bad consequences if you don't. Easy, optional, effective.
We have a video!
Video thumbnail
We'd love to show you our campaign video. Want to take a look?
, you're already on the team.