Baltimore Orioles veteran pitcher Ryan Helsley and his wife, Alex, scored their biggest victory as parents with their young daughter Tatum now starting to hear all the things we sometimes take for granted.
Tatum, born in early 2025, couldn’t hear anything from her right ear, and the left one was operating at 50%. Such a hearing imbalance can often cause the slightly operating one to fail.
At first, the parents took a patient approach, hoping it would improve. But when that didn’t happen, they went with cochlear implants. However, it was no easy procedure, and it sure did make the parents nervous.
“It was for sure nerve-racking,” Helsley said. “You want the best for your kids, and right after she was born, you’re told she would need at least one major surgery, possibly two. That’s a pretty big gut punch for a parent, and we just started praying right away. Obviously, very anxious about it all.”
Tatum’s first surgery (on her right ear) happened during Helsley’s spring training. Then, in April, a second surgery happened on the left ear, as Helsley drove from Kansas City to Oklahoma.
Ryan Helsley Relieved as Implants Surgery Turned Successful For Daughter Tatum
In a recent interview, Ryan Helsley informed his family’s well-wishers and Orioles fans that his daughter has started to hear. This has given the Orioles’ closer immense happiness as her daughter can hear all the things that people generally take for granted.
“Obviously, a pretty big last few months for our family,” Helsley said. “Just to get her reactions and you can make noises, whistle at her, say her name — she knows her name — she’ll turn and look at you, and she’s starting to talk a whole lot more.”
The last few months have been big for Helsley, particularly. Needing to be available for the Orioles, the pitcher had to witness and get updates from afar as Tatum started giving signs of attention to things upon hearing. One such video he received was Tatum giving attention to the sound of the bell ringing.
Earlier, Tatum made a humming sound. But now, she has reached a point where she is beginning to say “Mama” and “Dada.” This is a big moment for the family.
Helsley explained to Tatum’s big sister Eliana that just like daddy needs glasses to see, her younger sister needs these implants to hear. One day, Tatum will also need an explanation if she is different from others because of the implants. The closer hopes to deal with it in the same way.
Read More News:
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in baseball, tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
