Widja’s Gear to Hear

Widja was born with a congenital bilateral sensorineural deafness which caused severe hearing loss in both her ears. On the 29th of September 2015, just after her 2nd birthday, she received a cochlear implant in her right (R) ear. The switch on was on the 12th of October 2015. The operation was a great success and she shows huge response to all sounds and even attempts a few words already. One of the most precious moments was when she could bang away on the piano and totally relish in the effects the sound had on her, even trying to sing along.

Widja is an ideal candidate for a bilateral cochlear implant. With this she will be able to communicate and function normally in background noise. She will also be able to locate sounds which is impossible with only one hearing ear.

Bilateral hearing is EXTREMELY important for Speech discrimination in background noise and for sound localisation. This improves hearing in everyday life and therefor enhances the performance in the school and later working environment. It will better Widja’s chances tremendously of joining and succeeding in mainstream education in the future.

Thanks to family, friends and even people who don't know Widja and a small medical aid plan it seems like it would be possible for her to receive the second implant early May just before her fourth birthday. We already staryed gathering the funds for the second implant and are only about $2 000 short.

She needs this just as urgently as the first to be able to perform and develop her language and speech fully. The second implant will cost up to $29 000 including additional fees associated with the pre- and post surgery care.

Every amount, big and small made her first implant and hearing for the first time in her life possible and for that we are extremely thankful!!!!