My name is Lucie, and on the 30th of June, my life changed forever. I have NF2, a rare genetic condition that causes tumours to grow on the hearing nerves in the brain. In 2022, I lost the hearing in my left ear after removal surgery, and this summer, another 12hr brain surgery to remove a tumour on my right side left me completely deaf. 
 
I cannot use hearing aids or cochlear implants due to my hearing nerves having been severed. The only way forward—the only way to truly communicate again—is to learn British Sign Language (BSL). 
 
But here’s the reality: becoming fluent in BSL costs around £4,000, and in Doncaster there is no funding at all for deafened adults to learn. To access funded courses, I’d have to uproot my family and move somewhere else—and even then, funding is scarce and limited. It’s frustrating and deeply unfair that, after losing my hearing, the opportunity to learn BSL isn’t accessible. 
 
I am a mum to a two-year-old little boy, Louie. He deserves a mum who can communicate with him as he grows, share stories with him, and be fully part of his world in a language we both understand. Learning BSL isn’t just about me—it’s about giving my son the childhood he deserves, and giving me the chance to be the mum he needs. 
 
I am currently fundraising to cover the cost of my Level 1, 2 and 3 BSL courses. After that, I will be self-funding the remaining levels myself to reach fluency. To help with this, a group of amazing people are taking part in a sponsored Mam Tor walk on the 1st of November, raising money towards these courses. 
 
I have been supported in many ways since becoming deaf, and I’m grateful for that—but when it comes to BSL, the support simply isn’t there. That’s why I’m asking for help. 
 
Every donation will go directly towards paying for BSL courses and resources. Your support will give me the chance to connect, to belong, and to raise my son without silence standing between us. Any excess funding will be used to further support my family learning sign (baby sign classes, family signing classes ECT) and be donated to NF2 Biosolutions to fund research into finding a cure for NF2. 
 
Thank you so much for reading my story, and for any support you can give.

Daniel Nicholl

Ginette Fraser

James Brownbridge

Bridie Watson-Legge

Zach Peel

Rachel Askew

Jay Martin

Paulina Lechowska

Holly Law

Ellie Goddard

Anonymous

Bethany Hennigan

Caitlyn Turton

susan horton

Laura Walton

Nora Buxton

Help Me Learn British Sign Language After becoming deaf

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