{"id":79076,"date":"2024-12-02T08:57:11","date_gmt":"2024-12-02T15:57:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=79076"},"modified":"2024-12-02T19:12:20","modified_gmt":"2024-12-03T02:12:20","slug":"patient-and-expectant-mom-grateful-for-hospitals-in-person-asl-interpreters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/patient-and-expectant-mom-grateful-for-hospitals-in-person-asl-interpreters\/","title":{"rendered":"Deaf couple received vital help from in-person hospital ASL interpreters after scary car crash. Now, they’re set to welcome their first baby."},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
\"Angela
Angela Lavin became Deaf as a child. After a bad car crash, she was grateful for in-person ASL interpreters who supported her in the hospital. Now, she and her husband, who is also a proud member of the Deaf community, are expecting their first baby in December. Photo by Cyrus McCrimmon, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Deaf woman was driving blocks from her home when she suddenly saw a truck heading straight toward her small green Kia.<\/p>\n

Angela Lavin doesn\u2019t remember the moment the truck slammed into her, but she soon found herself bleeding and pinned in her crumpled car.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was very scary. I was shaking. I was stuck behind the dashboard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"After
After a scary car accident that crushed Angela Lavin’s car, she was taken to UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital where in-person ASL interpreters supporter her during a two-week hospital stay. Photo courtesy of Angela Lavin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She passed out and woke up a short time later at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital<\/a> near her home in Green Valley Ranch close to Denver International Airport. It was the first time that she ever had been in a hospital as an adult.<\/p>\n

Angela, now 36, suffered fractures in both her femur and her neck, injuries that would require her to be hospitalized for two weeks.<\/p>\n

Despite the injuries and the scary accident, Angela was greatly relieved when a woman at the hospital ER seamlessly started communicating with her in American Sign Language or ASL.<\/p>\n

\u201cI woke up in the ER and thought, \u2018Who is this woman?\u2019 and she said, \u2018You\u2019re in the hospital,\u2019 and I realized, \u2018Oh, she signs. She\u2019s an interpreter.\u2019 I felt a lot better with an interpreter by my side, having someone who knows my language.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Angela has fully recovered from the accident which happened three years ago.<\/p>\n

Most people don\u2019t ever want to return to the hospital after a traumatic injury.<\/p>\n

But Angela and her husband, Shane Lavin \u2014 who is also Deaf \u2014 are looking forward to returning and again receiving support from trusted in-person ASL interpreters. That\u2019s because the couple is expecting their first baby on Dec. 26 and Angela plans to welcome her baby at what has become her favorite hospital.<\/p>\n

UCHealth is the only hospital system in the Rocky Mountain region that boasts six in-person, staff members who are ASL interpreters \u2014 three in the Denver region, two in southern Colorado and one who serves northern Colorado. In UCHealth’s Denver region alone, ASL interpreters support Deaf patients with about 2,000 medical visits each year.<\/p>\n

For Angela and Shane \u2014 who are proud members of the Deaf community \u2014 having knowledgeable culturally-sensitive, in-person interpreters transforms their health care experiences.<\/p>\n

\"Angela
Angela and Shane Lavin are excited to add a new family member when their first baby arrives. Both are Deaf and will be thrilled if their new baby is also Deaf. Photo by Cyrus McCrimmon, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

They attended elementary school together as kids, lost touch then married as adults<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Angela was born with hearing, but by age 3, her parents noticed that she was having trouble with her balance. And she wasn\u2019t always responding when family members were speaking to her. Angela later learned that she has a disease called Kallman syndrome. It more commonly strikes males than females, and in rare circumstances, causes Deafness<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Both Angela and Shane grew up in San Diego. They attended school together for a little while in elementary school.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was in the third grade while I was in second. We didn\u2019t hang out, but I remembered his face. He has the same face,\u201d Angela said, grinning as she looked over at her husband.<\/p>\n

In sign language, Shane\u2019s name means big smile. Decades later, his face still erupts with joy and love when he talks about Angela.<\/p>\n

\"Shane
Shane and Angela Lavin met as kids then reconnected as adults. Shane shared his love of travel with Angela. Here they pose with a koala during a visit to a zoo in Australia. Photo courtesy of Angela and Shane Lavin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The two lost track of one another after elementary school.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere wasn\u2019t Facebook or texting. I couldn\u2019t keep in touch with Angela,\u201d said Shane.<\/p>\n

Many years later, they reconnected.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of my friends knew Angela. Finally, after college, I joined Facebook. She saw me there and asked if I was Shane from elementary school. I said, \u2018Yes. It\u2019s me. I remember you very well.\u2019 Then we started to see each other, and the rest is history.\u201d<\/p>\n

A giant smile spreads over Shane\u2019s face as he animatedly shares the story of reconnecting with Angela and now, expecting their first child.<\/p>\n

A shared love of travel born of an obsession with maps<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When Shane was a kid, he loved maps and decided he wanted to visit every state in the U.S., so his mom took him on ambitious road trips around the country. By age 18, Shane had achieved his goal and had logged photos from every state.<\/p>\n

Now, he\u2019s sharing his love of geography and travel with Angela, who has six states to go on her mission to visit them all. They include West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and Alaska. She\u2019s also excited to go to Washington, D.C.\u00a0 someday, where she\u2019s eager to visit the legendary college for the Deaf: Gallaudet University<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Angela and Shane also are looking forward to enjoying adventures with their baby.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re expecting a girl and plan to name her Sydney in honor of the honeymoon trip they took to Australia after they were married in 2016.<\/p>\n

Angela is a little nervous about childbirth but is excited to become a mom.<\/p>\n

Shane can\u2019t wait for Sydney to arrive and eagerly attends every prenatal visit with his wife.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited. It will be fun to expose our baby to all the traveling we love to do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Both hope their baby will be Deaf, but of course, will adapt if she\u2019s not.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll hear us screaming in the halls of the hospital if she\u2019s not Deaf,\u201d Shane joked. \u201cMost people prefer for their baby to be hearing. We\u2019re the opposite. We hope our baby will be Deaf.\u201d<\/p>\n

Added Angela: \u201cWe\u2019d love for her to speak the same language we speak. Sign language is a visual language. Being Deaf is a very positive trait in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Angela
Angela and Shane Lavin are proud members of the Deaf community. They love speaking ASL, an expressive, visual language. Photo by Cyrus McCrimmon, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Of course, the Lavins will adore their baby no matter what, but they are eager for the hearing world to keep adapting to Deaf people rather than the other way around.<\/p>\n

Supporting Shane and Angela along the way are Shane\u2019s parents, Pam and Phil Lavin. Angela\u2019s parents are no longer alive, so she and Shane both lean on the Lavins for support and encouragement.<\/p>\n

Pam Lavin said her son, who has been Deaf since birth, has been fiercely determined since he was a child.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a very proud Deaf man. He will insist on receiving services. If a place like a national park hangs up on him, he\u2019ll call back two million times,\u201d Pam Lavin said.<\/p>\n

\u2018Without interpreters, I would have been so confused\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Hospitals are required to provide services for people who speak other languages.<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s a shortage of ASL interpreters in Colorado and around the world, so in-person interpretation for Deaf people can be rare.<\/p>\n

Angela and Shane learned just how vital in-person support is when Angela got in her accident. Both work as stockers for PepsiCo. Shane\u2019s territory includes mountain communities in Colorado\u2019s Grand County. He loves driving and spending time in the mountains. The couple also tends to stores in the Denver area. Thankfully, on the day Angela got hurt, Shane was working south of Denver rather than hours away on the other side of Berthoud Pass.<\/p>\n

Angela was actually driving to a store to help Shane on Dec. 23, 2021, when the truck hit her.<\/p>\n

After the accident, interpreter Lariisa McClung spent much of the day with Angela and Shane, then another interpreter, Ilise Meyers stepped in. At that time, there were two Denver-area interpreters, so Lariisa and Ilise teamed up to spend as much time with Angela and Shane during her hospitalization.<\/p>\n

The interpreters have since grown close to the couple.<\/p>\n

When Angela arrived in the ER, she had no idea how her caregivers knew she was Deaf and needed help communicating, but she was thrilled when McClung seemed to magically appear.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was amazing. I felt so cared for. Without interpreters, I would have been so confused. I had never even broken a bone,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a miracle, and the interpreters and doctors were miracle workers,\u201d Angela said. \u201cThey treat you like family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Denise Quattlebaum is a physician assistant who specializes in orthopedics and cared for Angela after the accident.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was quite concussed and suffered a bad trauma,\u201d Quattlebaum said. \u201cThe fractures are quite painful.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s typical for patients who have been in car accidents to be confused, but communication challenges would have made things even harder, Quattlebaum said.<\/p>\n

\u201cLariisa was there all day,\u201d Quattlebaum recalled. \u201cIt\u2019s great to see these familiar faces like hers. They\u2019re with us at the hospital every day. There\u2019s a strong connection.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Angela suffered bad fractures, Quattlebaum said it\u2019s typical for people like her to recover well.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe surgeries are very successful on someone as young and healthy as Angela,\u201d said Quattlebaum.<\/p>\n

A baby girl who is growing well; a team of ASL interpreters and medical providers who are geared up to help<\/strong><\/h2>\n

These days, Angela returns frequently to clinics at the hospital for prenatal appointments and checkups with her obstetrical team. During a recent ultrasound, she and Shane eagerly watched as technicians checked on their baby\u2019s growth.<\/p>\n

Shane loves biology, so he kept an eye on his daughter\u2019s arms, feet and organs. Angela noticed how calm their baby was. She seemed to be snoozing through the entire appointment. She tends to be a night owl who loves to kick and keep her mom up at night.<\/p>\n

The verdict from the ultrasound was excellent.<\/p>\n

Sydney\u2019s size thus far puts her right in the middle of the growth charts. She\u2019s healthy, and her head is down, so she appears ready to make her debut next month.<\/p>\n

Interpreting for Shane and Angela throughout their recent visit was Ilise Meyers, who, like the other ASL interpreters, has grown close with the couple over the last three years. The Denver-based interpreters are all on standby, ready to support the couple during the birth.<\/p>\n

\"Angela
Angela and Shane Lavin had a recent ultrasound and checkup.Their baby is growing well and is due on December 26. Assisting them during their visit was ASL interpreter, Ilise Meyers, right, standing, and Dr. Shannon Son, lower right, seated. Photo by Katie McCrimmon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dr. Shannon Son<\/a>, one of the maternal-fetal medicine specialists who is caring for the couple, said Angela and her baby are in great health.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome folks develop new issues like diabetes or high blood pressure during pregnancy, but Angela is doing well,\u201d said Son, who is also an assistant professor<\/a> at the University of Colorado School of Medicine <\/a>on the Anschutz Medical Campus<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Dr.
Dr. Shannon Son is a maternal-fetal medicine expert. Photo courtesy of Dr. Shannon Son.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shane asked Son if Angela will be able to drive herself to the hospital if he happens to be far away when she goes into labor. (Yes, unless there\u2019s an urgent medical issue in which case she should ask a friend or family member for help or should call 911.) Angela went over the details of what she should do if her water breaks. (Grab some towels and head to the hospital.)<\/p>\n

Son loves answering questions, especially for first-time parents like Angela and Shane.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s wonderful when patients feel comfortable talking about things that they\u2019re nervous about. We\u2019ll continue making sure that we\u2019re keeping her safe and healthy,\u201d Son said. \u201cWe\u2019re here for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Son also raved about Ilise\u2019s help.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn-person interpretation is life changing. They are able to capture many more of the nuances,\u201d Son said.<\/p>\n

At times in the past, when an in-person interpreter was not available, Son has occasionally had to use off-site interpreters who communicate with Deaf patients via iPads.<\/p>\n

Working with in-person interpreters is much easier.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe, as humans, communicate in so many different ways. Having in-person interpreters makes a world of difference as we connect with our patients and make sure they fully understand what we\u2019re discussing,\u201d said Son.<\/p>\n

\"Angela
Angela and Shane Lavin receive extensive support from Shane’s parents, Phil and Pam Lavin. The four posed together during a trip to Hawaii. Shane’s parents fostered his love of maps and travel as a child and helped him visit all 50 states by age 18. Photo courtesy of Pam Lavin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018Australia captured our hearts.\u2019 Soon baby Sydney will too.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

During the Lavins\u2019 trip to Australia, they loved seeing all sorts of animals, from red pandas to cheetahs and echidnas, which are similar to porcupines.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got to hold a koala,\u201d Angela said. \u201cAustralia captured our hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Shane
Shane and Angela Lavin pose with travel memorabilia at their home. The couple looks forward to sharing their love of travel with their baby. Photo by Katie McCrimmon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now, the couple is looking forward to meeting another little being who also will capture their hearts.<\/p>\n

Pam Lavin is thrilled to become a grandmother and is excited to see how Shane and Angela develop as parents.<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir lives aren\u2019t any different than any of my friends who have kids. Angela and Shane go after whatever they want. They don\u2019t let anything hold them back. They stand up for their rights,\u201d Pam said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re just like all of us. They just can\u2019t hear.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her advice to hearing people is to be patient if they encounter a Deaf person and don\u2019t know how to communicate with them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWrite down what you want to say or use a phone. There are wonderful apps,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

When Shane was young, parents were taught a different sign language that\u2019s based on English and isn\u2019t nearly as beautiful, fluid or visual as ASL. Pam wishes she had learned ASL. She manages to communicate well with both Shane and Angela, but she\u2019s pondering learning ASL alongside her granddaughter.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care if she\u2019s Deaf or hearing, as long as she\u2019s a healthy little girl,\u201d Pam said. \u201cWe can\u2019t wait to meet her.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Deaf woman was driving blocks from her home when she suddenly saw a truck heading straight toward her small green Kia. Angela Lavin doesn\u2019t remember the moment the truck slammed into her, but she soon found herself bleeding and pinned in her crumpled car. \u201cIt was very scary. I was shaking. I was stuck […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2123,"featured_media":79080,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[4750,3921,493],"class_list":["post-79076","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-innovative-care","tag-access-to-care","tag-community-benefits-report","tag-patient-experience"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPatient, expectant mom grateful for hospital's in-person ASL interpreters - UCHealth Today<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"UCHealth, the only hospital system in the Rocky Mountain region with in-person staff ASL interpreters, provides vital help to Deaf couple. .\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/patient-and-expectant-mom-grateful-for-hospitals-in-person-asl-interpreters\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Deaf couple received vital help from in-person hospital ASL interpreters after scary car crash. 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