Abigaile uses a communication device; that when activated with her hands or eyes it speaks for her. Yet she still loves meeting people in person and trying to communicate verbally. With Dravet Syndrome someone is always required to be around her; who knows her and is medically trained. Her aids and I know her and understand her verbally since she can say a few words but they are limited.
In the movie Marvel Guardian of the Galaxy there is a character named Groot. In English when he speaks, we only hear three words “I Am Groot”. Yet he says so much more. He tells us when he is happy, mad or sad all by the same three words. He can devise a whole plan to save the Galaxy but we only hear “I am Groot” because we do not speak Groot.
Just like Groot, Abigalle is speaking in her own language with a limited English vocabulary. When most people meet Abigaile they do not understand when she say “HI” it means more than a simple greeting.
“HI“ has several meaning:
- Greeting “hi”
- I want something
- I am happy
- Yes
“Bye” is much the same:
- Bye
- Pain
- I want to go
- No
- I do not want to go home (It starts half a mile from the house)
- I am angry at you.
If you ever meet Abigaile in person listen very carefully, because you will not hear “I am Groot” but you will hear so much more.
The Poppy
abigaile.org 
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