Our incredible daughter Liz died in the early hours of this morning. She remained determined to the last. Even yesterday she was still making plans. We are so very proud of the kindness, empathy and courage she has shown in the last year. She was not only a phenomenal photographer, she was the best human, and the most wonderful daughter and big sister we could ever have asked for. No one could have fought harder for life than she did. There is a gaping Liz shaped hole in our lives that I am not sure how we will ever fill. We have so much gratitude to every single one of you, whether you offered to help, or liked or shared posts - you ensured Liz’s last two months were her very best. She flew high until the end.
We have two last favours to ask. Firstly, we would like to ask you to share one of her photos - on your social media, or in real life, however you can. Let’s let her go out with a bang. #LizHatton (photos will follow in a thread but do also feel free to choose your own from @lizhatton_photography on Instagram)
Secondly, if you can we would like you to help us with a mission to raise money to fund research into Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumour. With no charity in the UK or internationally funding into effective treatments are lacking. In 2024 a 15% 5 year survival rate is simply not enough. Together we can change that. Whether you can share, donate or raise funds - please be our village one more time. Let’s make this the last item on her bucket list and make sure other families don’t face a similar fate: https://t.co/iSsJO83LLs
I scored 19/20 on MIST-20, better than 89% of the US population. Test your misinformation susceptibility now! What is #YourMIST? 🧐 https://t.co/csyb9KGX1x #misinformation#fakenews
@nathanand I wish I could tell you when I started to feel normal again. I had my twins and then my daughter so new mommy exhaustion gave me memory issues. It is a process though, so one day you’ll just realize you feel different.
@Hozier@ruthlessimagery Incredible album! Incredible artist! Congratulations on a career that is well deserved by one of the most talented artist of his generation.
@KayeSteinsapir Twenty years after I lost my son I am still friends with those who helped me through. Even ones I only know online! We are your people. We are your Tribe.
@DanWuori When my son was 8 mos he said and signed his first words in the same week. He said, “all done”. It was precious. That was 17 years ago, and he cannot sign anything now, but he and his twin used sign a lot when they were little.
Here’s one of the most fascinating child development videos I’ve ever shared.
As your baby learns language, they begin by approximating the examples you set.
After a period of early experimentation with sound (including cries, coos and gurgles), infants begin babbling - making speech-like sounds (which often include components of conventional speech) that are - nonetheless - not yet conventionally meaningful.
This babbling phase is a precursor to the use of formal words. And it happens in all languages.
Including sign language.
This video shows an infant (who, by the way, is not hearing impaired) “babbling” to her deaf grandparents.
As they sign to her, she responds in kind, using her hands to approximate the signed communication that they are modeling.
It’s a whole serve and return conversation, just as if they were conversing verbally.
If you’ll watch carefully, you’ll note distinct turn taking.
And - interestingly - that with her grandparents she largely avoids vocalizations, in favor of gesture.
What a treat to see this rich example of bilingual language development.
This fascinating video was shared to TT by mara_mccullough.