THIS is little Anna Murphy (3) who is making a great recovery after undergoing recent cochlear implant surgery at Beaumont Hospital.
Anna initially had a cochlear implant fitted just under two years ago. However, it recently stopped working, bringing Anna back into a world of silence.
Her mother Lorraine, from Swords, is a member of the Happy New Ear group who are campaigning for bilateral cochlear implants to be carried out in Ireland. She said that Anna’s recent experience further highlights the case for two implants to be carried out at the same time.
“The good news for Anna is that the recent surgery seems to have been a compete success,” she told Northside People. “All 22 electrodes were inserted, tested and are working. She will be switched back on to sound in a few weeks and we can’t wait.”
She added: “To see a child so sick, afraid and tired after an an anesthetic is hard enough, but to think that she will have to do it all again if she is lucky enough to get two implants is maddening. Anna will be back on her journey to sound shortly and it will take at least a few weeks to make sense of sound again.
“Considering she is four in July, this is a critical part of her little life to disrupt her hearing and speech progression.”
Lorraine paid tribute to the Cochlear Implant Department in Beaumont Hospital for accommodating Anna’s surgery so quickly. She also thanked the staff of St Raphael’s Ward, as well as their family, friends and well-wishers.
For further information on the Happy New Ear campaign, check out their Facebook page.