39-Year-Old Deaf Woman Hears for First Time
A 39-year-old woman is hearing sound for the first time after receiving a set of cochlear implants.
Joanne Milne of Gateshead in the U.K. was born deaf because of Usher syndrome. It also made her lose her sight when she was in her late-20s. She is now legally blind.
But thanks to doctors at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Milne regained one sense. About four weeks ago, she underwent surgery for cochlear implants. This past week, Milne returned to the hospital to have the implants turned on. She brought a friend, Tremayne Crossley, along to film the moment.
In the video that Crossley shot, Milne is sitting across from a hospital employee who cautions that her new sense of hearing might be overwhelming at first. As the worker begins to recite the days of the week, Milne is moved to tears. The employee also warns that everything may sound high-pitched at first, but eventually her brain will readjust and everything will sound normal.
"It's a big, big life-changing day today," she adds, trying to comfort Milne, who at this point is now shaking. "Can you hear your own voice?"
Milne replies that she can, and the medic continues with the evaluation.
Video at the link: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/trending-now/39-year-old-deaf-woman-hears-for-first-time-175051301.html?vp=1
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