Suzanne Chen
Who’s in your family?
I (Suzanne) am married to my husband Edward. We have three children: Parker(11) is our first and most easygoing, loving, and determined child, who also has CHARGE. Piper(8) is our spunky, confident daughter. Pierson(4) is our outgoing, energetic, LOUD child.
What do you want people to know about your family?
We’re a tight family. My kids are crazy. They can’t get enough of each other. My kids know that their brother is a little different, but they don’t treat him otherwise. They all embrace each others’ uniqueness and abilities, and that’s what I truly love about them.
- Edward is a Field Operations Manager for a telecom company.
- I (Suzanne) work part-time with the NewYorkDeaf-Blind Collaborative as the Outreach Coordinator. I also work one day a week at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital as a Parent Partner. I’m also the President of the NewYork Parent Association for Deafblind.
- We live in Queens,NY. My husband and I both grew up in Queens, NY and met in college (lived next door to each other in the same dormhall, and that’s how we met!)
What activities do you like to do?
- We hang out as a family, but also try to make time for each other. During the weekends you can find me with my kids at either a morning speech therapy session (drinking coffee), swimming lessons (drinking coffee), or we’ll try to find family activities around NY to take the kids to, like the Hall of Science, or a children’s museum, or the park.
- All of my siblings, and a lot of our family live in NY, so we try and get together every so often for lunch, or meet somewhere to hangout.
- Each year we try and have the kids also do their own thing (it’s hard when you have multiple children, as well as a special needs child, to do that). Piper does a summer camp for siblings of deafchildren, she also participated inNinja warrior classes. Pierson does Chinese classes, and Parker participates in an inclusive Dance Class once a week (finally something NON-therapy related!) afterschool.
- I am also on the PTA for two of my children’s schools. I LOVE to be busy, and love meeting new families, and being social.
- At least once or twice a month I try and have dinner with friends. They keep me grounded, supported, and make me laugh.
To contact your state’s Family Liaison please email Lourdes Quintana at Lourdes@chargesyndrome.org.
