As the world literally focused on the Solar Total Eclipse on Monday, April 8, the crowd at a “local country club” gathered to support those with another kind of sensory element. It was the Callier Cares Luncheon chaired by Laura Downing, who admitted that her family had recently learned of hearing challenges.
As Laura recalled, her husband Jason Downing had had challenges in hearing in restaurants, and Laura had wondered about the sound from their home’s TV being a bit loud. Jason checked in with the Callier Center for Communication Disorders team and learned that he had just 40% hearing in one ear. With that diagnosis, he had been fitted for a hearing aid. As Laura laughed, they were eating out more nowadays.
But before this reveal happened in the ballroom, the Callier Cares Luncheon patron party took place in the club’s private room, where the crowd bulged with guests like Claire Emanuelson, Pam Perella, Lisa Cooley, Shannon Graham, Kim Quinn, Jennifer Dix, Carol Seay, Jill Rowlett, Nancy Carter, Tricia George, Patti Flowers, Lynne and Roy Sheldon, Christie Carter and Pam Busbee. However, chairs in the room were scarce, to say the least. Finally, two extras were hauled, in much to the comfort (and relief) of Cynthia Melnick and Emilynn Wilson.
In the meantime, the grounds below were set up with rows of white folding chairs as if for a wedding or a revival meeting. Instead, the setup was for the post luncheon viewing of the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. Now, the only question was, “Would the clouds part for the viewing?”
Before the chairs were put to use, though, the Luncheon took place with Callier Center for Communication Disorders Executive Director Dr. Angela Shoup, videos, and the presentation of awards. The Ruth and Ken Altshuler’s Callier Cares Award went to Sarah Losinger and the Thomas F. Campbell Callier Prize in Communication Disorders was given to Dr. Rebecca J. Landa for her work with autistic children.
According to Dr. Pamela Rollins, professor of speech, language, and hearing in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, who serves as chair of the 2024 Campbell Callier Prize Committee, “Dr. Landa has distinguished herself as an extraordinary researcher, mentor and scholarly influencer. She was the first investigator to design prospective studies with siblings of autistic children — studies that showed that approximately 20% of later-born siblings develop autism.
“She also discovered other early predictors for the development of autism, including disruptions in motor development. Her innovations have influenced care and research focused on communication disorders on four continents.”
While the program was underway, a toddler’s wail was heard, with mothers of all ages immediately alert and sitting a bit more erect. Like deer sensing a problem, the women shifted their heads in the direction of the sound.
But they eventually realized that the youngster was Liam Bradley and it was a sound of joy for his parents, Wendy and Kyle Bradley, who had learned almost at birth that Liam had failed audio tests. Now, to the delight of the couple, Liam could say “mama” and “dada” and complain soundly like any toddler.
Timed perfectly as the 2024 eclipse was warming up, Foundation for the Callier Center President Anne McPherson invited guests to the outdoor seating area to observe the solar presentation.
To safeguard their visionary health, guests discovered eclipse-friendly shades for the occasion.
Some, like Louise Griffeth, took their places on the club’s terrace and in the white folding chairs. Others headed home, fearing the predicted threats of traffic congestion resulting from the overwhelming number of visitors to the area for the eclipse.
But the predictions proved baseless at this time, as roads like Hillcrest and Northwest Highway were ghostly, like the morning of 9/11 and the first days of the pandemic.
On the other hand, schoolyards had youngsters on playgrounds safely looking skyward. Over at The Village it was a lawn rollout, with hundreds of eyes looking to the heavens as if waiting for angels to appear.
But when the moment of the totality took place, a cheer was heard throughout area neighborhoods as the clouds finally parted and the moon and sun embraced, leaving North Texas in total darkness.
For more looks of the luncheon crowd, check out MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.