Isle of Wight resident Nelle Findlay has launched a GoFundMe page to seek donations for an implant to restore some hearing in her left ear – with £5,965 already raised.
22-year-old Nelle completely lost her sense of hearing a year ago and is profoundly deaf in both ears. She has received a cochlear implant in her right ear, but as an adult she is only eligible for NHS funding in 1 ear. A private operation for a 2nd implant costs up to £50,000.
Nelle hopes to start university in September. She believes being able to hear in both ears would help her feel more socially included and allow her to participate in activities she enjoys.
Speaking on her fundraiser, Nelle has said:
“My implant has been very successful. However, to improve my understanding of speech in noise, hearing people on my left side, and directional hearing, I would really like to have a 2nd implant. Unfortunately, my only option for this is to pay for one privately for between £30,000-£50,000.
“I currently work a minimum wage job and am planning to start studying at university in September, so I can’t afford the cost myself. My family are more than willing to help, but as an ordinary middle-class family, raising that amount is not easy, so we would be very grateful for all the help we can get.
“Cochlear implants aren’t a cure for hearing loss, and I’m sure I will be able to live a happy and fulfilling life without another implant. However, I believe it would make a big difference in making me feel included socially and allow me to take part more easily in the activities I enjoy.
“While my family and I are working to raise as much as we can ourselves, we are extremely grateful for any donations.”
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Nelle’s GoFundMe page can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/nelle-get-a-second-cochlear-implant.
To understand how the world sounds to deaf people with cochlear implants, watch Nelle in the video below:
Get it done abroad and save thousands.
If we had a government that cared for the people instead of the UK’s oligarchs we would have an NHS that was fully funded and we would pay less tax. But instead the UK government and the unelected lords continue to siphon tax money into their bank accounts. They spent over 5 billion pounds painting their palace! And that is just the tip of the ice burg.
So when are we going to get the NHS we pay for? This is just daft. Being able to hear is fundamental. She should have been given both implants.