Meet the McCall Family

BY AUTUMN COFFEY: WRITER AND CONTRIBUTOR

• PHOTOS BY 21 VINES PHOTOGRAPHY

After college, John and Ellyn McCall relocated from Indiana to Safety Harbor, Florida, unaware that they would eventually return to their home state. In Florida, they joyfully welcomed their first two children, Ava and Jace. In 2007, Eli entered this world as an angel. He passed away while Ellyn was in labor. Ellyn knew that Eli’s short life had unearthed something inside of her that would not only help her future children but so many others. It’s for that reason that Ellyn inspires us to know that difficult times, even tragedies, can create beauty in this world. “I wanted to make sure that his life was something to be celebrated, that he would have a legacy,” Ellyn said. She began looking for the right opportunity to make a difference. In 2008, Seth was born prematurely and immediately admitted to the NICU due to respiratory distress and pulmonary hypertension.

He required a ventilator for breathing support. While in the NICU, Seth failed his newborn hearing screening and as the weeks went by, Ellyn and John saw notable differences between Seth and his siblings. A follow-up test confirmed that Seth was profoundly deaf. Ellyn swiftly understood that if they wanted Seth to listen and speak, amplification like hearing aids and cochlear implants would be necessary. Ellyn was a natural researcher, and it became clear that for hearing outcomes, amplifying earlier was better. The McCalls started the process of getting Seth hearing aids, and in the meantime, they learned more about sign language and hearing loss in general. When Seth was six weeks old, he got his first set of hearing aids. Just a few weeks later, he started to receive specialized Listening and Spoken Language therapy every week. Hearing aids weren’t enough for Seth’s level of hearing loss, though, and the family soon learned that cochlear implants were his best chance at learning to listen and speak. When Seth was eight months old, he underwent surgery to receive bilateral cochlear implants. A few weeks later, the implants were activated and he experienced the joy of hearing his family’s voices for the very first time.

Over time, Seth continued to make remarkable progress, attending audiology and therapy appointments on a regular basis. However, John and Ellyn knew that if they wanted Seth to reach his full potential, he would need to attend a school specialized for kids with hearing loss who use Listening and Spoken Language. To their surprise, their research led them to St. Joseph’s Institute for the Deaf in Indianapolis, a school that aligned perfectly with Seth’s needs.

After their move back to Indiana, Seth began attending preschool at St. Joseph. Ellyn, meanwhile, came across a local non-profit organization called Hear Indiana. This organization’s main goal was to ensure that children with hearing loss were given the same opportunities as their peers through Listening and Spoken Language. Ellyn saw this as the perfect chance to help other families in a similar situation to hers and joined Hear Indiana in 2015. She simultaneously pursued her master’s degree and acquired her certification as a Listening and Spoken Language specialist. Presently, she holds the position of CEO at Hear Indiana. Seth now attends Noblesville High School and thanks to the work done at St. Joseph’s and Hear Indiana, he was able to develop a level of speech and language that rivals his peers. Ellyn remembers a time when she wasn’t sure if she would ever hear Seth say “I love you.”

“I still remember the first time he did and that will stick with me forever. But amazingly, that memory pales in comparison to seeing all the things Seth has done since then,” she confessed.

Over the years, Seth has participated in Best Buddies and student council. He currently serves as a junior board member for Indiana Hands and Voices. He is also a leadership camper at Indiana’s Listening and Spoken Language Camp.

The McCall’s are known for their active lifestyle and Ellyn admits, “It is challenging to meet the needs of all my kids, each of whom has different needs and challenges. We do our best to make sure that everyone gets to participate in what they love.” Seth and Coen play lacrosse in Noblesville. Ava plays lacrosse and Jace cheers at Trine University while Nova is a competitive gymnast.

Ellyn wholeheartedly believes that Indianapolis is an ideal location for raising a child with hearing loss. The abundance of helpful resources and a remarkable support system for parents make it an exceptional place. She also encourages parents to be the “squeaky wheel” and proactively advocate for their children.

She advises, “Be the one who speaks up even when it’s hard, the one who pushes for more and better opportunities for your child. You are the expert on your child and you have a very important seat at the table.”