Help Alaina Hear
If you have landed here, you probably know that I am raising money for my amazing little niece - Alaina - to help pay for the cost of her Cochlear Implants.
Alaina was born deaf, but misdiagnosed. As a result we did not know for sure until she was 11 months old.
Over a year after her diagnosis, Alaina received her first implant in 2009. I can still remember sitting in the hospital waiting room with my family feeling so scared! She was a baby! Having SURGERY ON HER HEAD! Alaina had an amazing team and it was so amazing to watch her relearn the world with this whole new sense - SOUND. I could finally sing her to sleep!
We researched more about the increased success with two implants when compared to one and booked an appointment to try and get her second implant surgery scheduled. We were surprised and disappointed to hear that this surgery WOULD NOT be paid for - and even if we were able to fund it ourselves - it would be hard to get the surgery.
My sister and I both wrote letters to our MP and called any resource we could think of! After numerous requests and much difficulty, we were able to find a loophole allowing us to take Alaina to Newfoundland and get her left sided implant in June of 2011. I went along for the surgery with Alaina, her Mom, Dad, and my Mom.
Our baby girl was SO BRAVE.
Alaina was significantly behind in all aspects of hearing, speech and school in general. With extensive speech therapy, music therapy and work from her family at home, Alaina has not only met provincial standards, but in some cases even exceeded them!
Alaina finished grade 6 this year with HONOURS in 11/11 subjects. She also received the Law Family Citizenship Award!
Alaina loves dance, play baseball and bowl. She has competed at the provincial level 2 times already for bowling in her short career!
We just learned recently that Alaina’s implants need to be upgraded.
Her left processor actually is not working at all, and is not repairable as the kind of implant she has is now obsolete. They are telling us we need to replace her right processor too. None of this is covered.
As some of you know, my sister and her family have really been through a lot in the past year. My sister was off work for an extended period of time and has only recently gone back on a very part-time basis while she continues to heal. They have no coverage to help them with this cost.
There is currently a significant trade in allowance from the makers of her implants which will help with the cost! Without this, the cost would be approximately $13,000 per ear! She will also receive ADP funding.
I have started this page in hope to raise money to HELP ALAINA HEAR! We are so thankful to have learned that there will be no surgery required as the external pieces are compatible with the internal parts!
I have had a few people ask me where to donate so I thought I would make this page. Any help is appreciated!
#HelpAlainaHear
