Our Story

Welcome to our little corner of the world, where love, language, and family come together. We are Callie and Leo and our journey began in 2015 when we first met. By 2017, we were engaged, and in 2019, we said “I do,” surrounded by the people we love most. In 2021, we welcomed our greatest joy—our son, Luca. Like any new parents, we were excited and nervous, ready to embrace everything parenthood had in store.

When Luca was born, he failed his newborn hearing screenings twice, leading to further testing. At just six weeks old, after two ABR tests, we were told he was profoundly Deaf. At the time, we didn’t know what that meant for him—or for us. Feeling lost, I reached out to a mother online who had walked a similar journey, and she gave me the best advice anyone could: ‘All your baby needs is love and language—keep singing, keep talking, but most importantly, start signing.’ And that’s exactly what we did…

Through our research, we discovered a startling fact: 90% of Deaf children are born to two hearing parents, and only 10% of those parents go on to learn American Sign Language (ASL). The impact of this is profound—when parents don’t learn ASL, it can lead to language deprivation, a lack of connection within families, and the inability to communicate with their Deaf child. It often leaves Deaf individuals feeling isolated, misunderstood, and excluded—not just from their own families but from the world around them. Knowing this, we were determined to be part of that 10%.

Despite what we found within the Deaf community—stories of empowerment and the vital importance of language—we were advised by medical professionals not to sign with Luca “if we wanted him to talk”. They encouraged cochlear implant surgery and discouraged signing. But everything we learned from the Deaf community told us otherwise.

ASL wasn’t just a tool for communication; it became a bridge to Luca’s world. It gave us a way to connect, to bond, and to ensure he had full access to language right from the start.

As we continued our journey, we went through a hearing aid trial with Luca, and to our surprise, he began responding to sound. At age two, we retested his hearing and discovered he wasn’t profoundly deaf as initially diagnosed. Luca has mild to moderate hearing loss, with enough residual hearing that cochlear implants are no longer necessary. However, deafness is a spectrum, and Luca is still very much part of the Deaf community. We remain committed to embracing and learning ASL, ensuring he always has full access to language and a sense of belonging within the community.

Today, our family is bilingual, speaking English and using ASL every day. Our bilingual home thrives with a blend of English and ASL, creating a space where Luca can grow and express himself fully. Watching Luca thrive in both languages has been the most beautiful, life-changing experience. ASL has given him—and us—more than just a way to communicate; it’s given us a deeper connection, a sense of belonging, and a mission.

We’re passionate about raising awareness and supporting the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. We want to be part of the movement in “Raising the 10%,” encouraging hearing parents like us to embrace ASL for their Deaf children. But beyond that, we believe everyone should learn sign language—it’s a gift that bridges communities, fosters inclusion, and creates a world where everyone belongs.

This is our story, and we’re so glad you’re here to be part of it. We hope our story inspires others to embrace ASL, support the Deaf community, and help build a more inclusive world.