Just Deaf

"Our parents gave us confidence: you're great, just the way you are."

Martine and Roos Wattel

"I think bonding and interacting with your child is the most important thing."

"What can I do now?"

"Would he ever be able to hear music, or the rain beating against the window? That was quite important to me."

"We're religious, and I immediately noticed this having an effect on my faith."

"Sometimes I feel belittled as a deaf person."

"Your first thought is: the world is ending. But it's not ending, another world just opens itself up."

"You end up in this medical scene, I almost forget to enjoy having my child."

"The realization really hit us: we're responsible for this now."

"Now that I see how happy they are, I worry a lot less."

"The first year was very busy, so many appointments. We barely had time to enjoy it."

"At first, very small things could make me incredibly sad."

"It's important for children to be able to be themselves."

"It was really kind of a relief when we heard Emiel was deaf."

"I love having a deaf child, that's hard to explain."