Shanaya and her family live in Trinidad and Tobago. Around the time she turned 3, they began noticing a delay in her speech. While they pursued testing and therapy in their home country, the results weren’t clear, and they weren’t making progress.
As Shanaya grew older, her family noticed she wasn’t engaging with others the way they expected. They found themselves going from appointment to appointment, but still without real answers or solutions.
That’s when Rena, Shanaya’s mom, reached out to her sister in law who lives in Lake Nona, Florida. Her sister knew about Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida and recommended exploring care options in Orlando. That advice – and introduction to the International Medicine Program at Nemours Children’s – set the family on a new path. Through a connection with Jordan Wadi, Nemours International Medicine Manager, the family began coordinating care with the Ear, Hearing and Communications Center.
The team evaluated Shanaya’s hearing loss and recommended cochlear implants as the best next step in her care after completing ABR testing in March of 2024. “Everything about Nemours has been a 10/10,” says Rena. Her care team includes audiologist Dr. Chelsea Clancy, speech-language pathologist Megan Nelson, device and implant coordinator Sandra Giraldo, and pediatric otolaryngologist Dr. Cedric Pritchett. Dr. Pritchett performed Shanaya’s cochlear implant surgery in July of 2024. After surgery, Shanaya stayed at Nemours Children’s until October to see her doctors for follow-up appointments and to start speech therapy.
For Shanaya, the surgery has been life-changing, but recovery has taken consistency and collaboration. “It has been a big relief,” shares Rena. “But it’s also been a lot of hard work from everyone in Shanaya’s life.” From her medical team to her teachers and caregivers back home, everyone has played a role in her progress.
Today, Shanaya continues her care journey with regular follow-up appointments in Orlando while working closely with her providers and educators in Trinidad and Tobago. Her family is encouraged by the progress she’s already made and remains committed to making sure she receives the support she needs.
When asked what advice she’d give to other families navigating similar challenges, Rena says “Don’t give up. Do what it takes, even if it means traveling to find the best possible care.” Because of the care she’s received, Shanaya now has a chance to connect more fully with the world around her.
