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Cochlear implant at Club Surgical Centre brings hope and hearing to nine-year-old
Cochlear implant at Club Surgical Centre brings hope and hearing to nine-year-old
Mulweli Makhuvha is living in a world of silence. Suffering from cochlear dysfunction, the nine-year-old hears very little, even with his hearing aids – not his mother’s voice, nor the bark of a pet or a single note of music.
Advanced ear surgery at a day hospital
But all this is about to change. Young Mulweli is due to be the first recipient of a cochlear implant performed in a daycare hospital in Pretoria, courtesy of pioneering ear, nose and throat specialist, Dr. Jannet Izeboud, at Club Surgical Centre in Hazelwood, Pretoria. Says Izeboud, “Medical technology has advanced exponentially since the first cochlear implant was performed. In fact, cochlear implants have become a reasonably straightforward procedure. It is these strides that have enabled us to where we are today: quite literally making history.”
From the word go, says Izeboud, she and her team were confident that they could successfully complete the procedure. “It was our vision to accomplish this life-changing surgery for Mulweli at a substantially reduced fee and with a minimum of trauma for a child of such tender years,” she explains.
Generosity to a tee
Even given this concession, the operation would have amounted to R95 000, as well as a R10 000 hospital co-payment – an amount the Makhuvas could ill afford but for an outstanding charity, an incredible event and a gathering of great givers. Last week, Forever Resorts SA held their annual golf day at Blue Valley Golf and Country Club in Midrand, with the Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss in South Africa as their charity beneficiary for the year. The event entailed, amongst other things, an auction and a variety of sponsorships, all of which yielded sufficient funds to cover three cochlear implants for children, one of which is Mulweli.
Infinite gratitude
Mulweli’s mother was and remains overjoyed at the prospect. “We are so grateful that Mulweli will soon be able to hear my voice, listen to the joyous sounds of our church choir and even such everyday sounds such as hooters,” she says. “This is a miracle for our family and words cannot express how blessed we feel.”
Beacon of hope for the future
“Mulweli may be the first cochlear implant patient in our daycare facilities, but he will most certainly not be our last,” concludes Club Surgical founding member and esteemed plastic surgeon, Dr. Japie de Wet. “It has always been our ethos that Club Surgical would become a beacon of hope and light for the many patients that are yet to enter its doors.”
Visions for the New Year 2019
As we approach 2019, we are looking forward to change many more lives with the gift of hearing, to approach and connect with many more angels, to apply for more awards in order to expand and improve our good cause, to increase the awareness about the gift of hearing and to appreciate more and more blessings to make a difference in the lives of those in need.
We look forward to give the gift of hearing to a very special 2-year-old girl from Ghana. We are busy with countless arrangements to realize the gift of hearing for Rebecca Dumeh for early 2019.
We look forward to give the gift of hearing to ‘Suné Hope’ early in 2019. A 2-year-old little girl with profound hearing loss, who experienced multiple traumas in her short life. This little girl is now in foster care with a loving family who are determined to give her a second chance in life. Together with the Foundation, this family is currently busy with a very powerful fundraising drive for Suné to receive an implant in both ears by early 2019. We strongly believe with them, that ‘Suné’ will have the total amount of funds in time for her implants.
Please note that personal details have been changed to protect the identity of this child.
In 2019, we plan to support MANY patients and to build strong relationships with ALL our donors!
Support and Gratitude, the truer meaning of Christmas
Studex South Africa have supported 11 patients with the gift of hearing in 2018 – and a 12th patient will benefit from the last 2018 donation in January. We look forward to continue this amazing partnership with Studex SA (American Piercing Systems) who really made a huge difference in the lives of many Cochlear Implant patients this year. Thank you Studex South Africa, your continuous support makes it possible for us to provide our patients with the gift of hearing! We urge the public to support the Foundation by also purchasing Studex ear rings available at selected stores.
What a journey we once again experienced with Isa Gold this year! Isa gold supported us on a monthly basis and we were able to allocate funds to 8 beneficiaries with huge outstanding amounts for the gift of hearing in 2018. We are so excited to continue this journey with Isa Gold in 2019, and we know that we will be able to change many more lives with cochlear implants, supported by this wonderful company, Isa Gold. Thank you for believing in the gift of hearing and for making it possible for us to continue our work.
Community Chest of the Western Cape and the Nellie Atkinson Trust (Nedgroup Trust) – how can we thank you enough! You have once again made such a huge difference to our organisation’s work. Thank you for supporting 2 patients with the funds they would never have received in time, Busiseka Khanyile and Rebecca Dumeh. We will keep you posted about the switch on moments and the progress of these 2 little brave ones.
Mr Stefan Launer and family. We would like to once again express our sincere gratitude for the donation you have made towards our organisation this year. Your support assisted a very bright young lady, Davida Lotter. We know she will move mountains in the years to come, thank you for making such a big difference in her life.
Thank you Forever Resorts SA for almost R190 000 to help 3 children with their outstanding amounts to receive the gift of hearing! We cannot wait for the next fundraising opportunity in 2019. Together we will change more lives.
To the Caring Daisies, the Round Table, each and every individual donor who either contributed once, monthly or annually. Your exceptional support allowed us to bring joy, independence and a life-changing gift of hearing to those in need.
To all our donors – your support, we believe, is also in keeping with the truer meaning of Christmas. Click HERE to donate!
Community Chest Impumelelo Social Innovations Awards 2018
It was indeed a full house at the Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town – at the Community Chest Impumelelo Social Innovations Awards evening on the 28th of November 2018.
We are extremely humble and proud for the Future Investment Award we received, and would like to sincerely thank Community Chest of the Western Cape for acknowledging the Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss in SA’s hard work and for believing in the GIFT OF HEARING!
Congratulations to all the award winners, keep up the good work to change lives!
YouTube Video: Community Chest Impumelelo Social Innovations Awards 2018
The Community Chest Impumelelo Social Innovations Awards is a leading awards programme for innovators who find creative solutions to public problems. The Awards programme celebrates extraordinary individuals who find these creative and innovative ways to solve public problems in South Africa and makes a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.
The Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss in Southern Africa was selected and nominated and received an excellence capacity building package, an Investment in the Future Award during the celebrations on 28 November 2018.
Cochlear Implant Journey & Testimonial, Mr Mpho Matibe
Going forward, the year 2018 marks the biggest life changing hearing dream of my life.
I had underwent Cochlear Implant surgery on 21 September 2018 whereby a magnet is inserted under your skin and I couldn’t be more thankful to a team of doctors from Ear Institute for Hearing, Nose & Throat in Queenswood, Pretoria as well as The Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss in Southern African.
On the 22nd October 2018; imagine I had waited more than 30 years to see my dream become a reality – I mean the joy of having an unbelievable real experience and that is to hear.
The echo of the sound I heard after wearing the Cochlear Implant for the first time still rings in my head like a lullaby and today a lot has changed. I am able to sing crazily in my car hearing all the lyrics of the song while driving, the movies I constantly watch and having curiosity on what it means to hear what the actors are saying and its story ending line, hearing people knock from your door even after you locked it, my phone ringing even if I am busy cooking and not staring at it and talking to my team of Engineers at work – that alone was the most beautiful thing I have ever had in my life.
Now I am able to attend meetings and hear what the agenda is all about and asking questions and being given feedbacks.
I recalled parking my car at the site at work and the funny thing I heard about 500 or more metres away from me was the sound of the turbine generator and people talking because before this, I never heard such things.
47 GIFTS OF HEARING DURING 2018
We are extremely proud about the total of 47 GIFTS OF HEARING provided to people with hearing loss in 2018…
Looking back at the Cochlear Implant procedures performed, facilitated and orchestrated by our professional team of expert doctors and surgeons; together with our successful Cochlear Implant Division at the Ear Institute Pretoria, we are very thankful that we could be part of these life-changing operations.
29 of these operations was made possible by the support and contributions from donors and partners who supported the Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss in South Africa during the year.
We are humbled and very grateful towards each donor for all the support we received in 2018. Every donation changed the life of someone in need.
The gift of hearing is a lasting gift that our patients will benefit from for the rest of their lives.
Thank you to everyone who believed in the gift of hearing during 2018!