Functionally Blind and Deaf

Another Story Problems - "now talks and laughs, is sociable, eats well and attends a normal school."

This testimony of Shafer Morrissey, who was functionally blind and deaf, shows that as a parent you should never give up hope, even in the face of negative reports by the medical professionals.

Shafer Morrissey

“When we first met with Matthew and Carol Newell in April of this year we were living in a very different world than we are today. Back then, our outlook on everything was grim. We had been told that, although our son somehow survived all the heart failures and surgeries that he was not predicted to do, he would not have much of a life. The oxygen deprivation following his cardiac arrests had taken a toll on his brain. The prediction was that he would never hold is head up, be able to sit up, crawl, walk or talk. Shafer was functionally blind and deaf, he could feel almost nothing to the touch, and he had a weak cry. The physicians could offer us no hope for helping him and we were frustrated with the lack of resources available to help such an injured child.

Then we met Matthew and Carol! We cannot express the impact that they have had on our lives. The first time we met with them, they evaluated Shafer and determined that he was 2.4 months old neurologically even though he was 8 months old chronologically. They gave us an individualized program for Shafer and we returned home. Our days, though long and grueling, are now filled with hope and promise for our son’s future.

The Newells are the first people to look at Shafer and see the marvelous boy that he can one day become. With their guidance, we know that Shafer will reach his full potential and have a more fulfilling life than we could have imagined. He is already proving his doctors wrong. We returned to the Family Hope Center in July 2002.Shafer had grown three months neurologically in three months - an incredible accomplishment! We are not certain what Shafer’s ultimate abilities will be but we are certain that without the Family Hope Center he would not be the incredible, active, loving little boy that he is today. We will be forever grateful for the Newells and their appropriately named Family Hope Center.”

Harmony Morrissey
Arizona, U.S.A.

Learn more about functionally blind and deaf