Surgery allows toddler hears her parent’s voices for the first time
An American toddler was able to hear her parents’ voices for the first time after receiving cochlear implants.
Laken Westbook was born deaf. After a variety of complications such as insurance coverage refusal and fluid in the ear, the one-year-old underwent a life-altering surgery that allowed her to finally hear the voices of her happy parents.
“We’ve been through so much and just like any parent that’s been through the same thing, you know it’s that day leading up to it, you know that’s like the climax of the story,” Gary Westbrook, Laken’s father, Gary told WFMYNEWS2.
Following the insurance complication, Laken’s father, decided to pay out of his own pocket to grant his daughter the possibility of hearing. This included a staggering $US20, 000 down-payment.
Luckily, the family received generous donations to help them cover the costs.
“I don’t know that we would have ever done it ourselves. To see how that worked, it was amazing,” Gary said. “There’s no way words can show our gratitude.”
Following the surgery, the proud parents were ecstatic to see their child make eye contact and listen to the sound of their voices.
“She’s never done that before,” Laken’s mother, Stacy, said.
Laken is now working with teachers to aid in the development of her new-found hearing.
Photo source: myfoxatlanta
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