Cochlear Implants - Girls (Abigail and Zoey) Hear for First Time

3-year-old Abigail and 18-month-old Zoey, had cochlear implant surgery at Fairview Health Services to help restore their ability to sense sound.
Learn more about cochlear implants: bit.ly/1LMJtXS and make a gift to support children like Abby and Zoey: bit.ly/1GZZomL

[@grannylynn3113]

I pray that the cost of the treatment and care would come down so more children could have this option. It's amazing to watch someone hear for the first time! God bless them, their families, and the medical teams that make this all possible!

[@gailkearns1183]

You said that beautifully!

[@msjkramey]

"They'll always have their new hearing birthday in the same day." Beautiful.

[@missdolittle]

Are you serious? Insurance doesn’t cover this? What reason did they give? It’s medically not necessary? Hearing is a luxury or what? Geeze, that makes me royally angry!

[@marthienel2190]

The parents have been through this and your outrage won't change the facts.

[@BitchBasss]

@@marthienel2190 Nobody is trying to change to facts here, what are u talking about?

[@olgagalvany2846]

Quina sort tenim al estat espanyol! La sanitat es universal!!!

[@tigerlilygirl2643]

​@@olgagalvany2846In the US money and power for the very few is valued more than people.

[@djkoz78]

This should be free. Hearing isn't a luxury it's a necessity and insurance companies are trash.

[@shadrach6299]

Implants are provided by the state in Louisiana

[@Jeannelawes]

@@shadrach6299 should be available in all states.

[@Dutch1961]

Don't limit this to hearing. Affordable healthcare isn't a luxury, it's a necessity. In the US it's a business, so is health insurance. In the Netherlands health insurance companies are allowed to make a limited profit. The premiums they may charge are exactly the same for every insured person, no matter what pre-existing conditions and they have to be based on the amount of money they spend on actual healthcare in total each year. There's a limited deductible of 345 Euro per year. There's a co-pay for prescribed medication of some Euro's. Not hundreds of Euro's, not even tens of Euro's. Cochlear implants and everything that comes with it are completely covered. No co-pay, only the annual deductible for visiting the hospital or getting new molds. Oh, and children until the age of 18 are covered on one of their parents plan, including dentistry. I have the most extensive plan there is and I pay a monthly premium of 168 euro and 50 cents. That's because our government doesn't allow clinics and health insurance companies to rip us off.

[@suzannemcmaken4648]

@@Dutch1961 And how many fit Americans do you see? How many people take charge of their health and eat healthily and exercise? Not many. But those of us who do all those positive steps are expected to pay higher premiums for those who don’t??? Would love to have my taxes go to little ones needing hearing aids and implants, but not for people letting themselves dissipate.

[@Dutch1961]

@@suzannemcmaken4648 that's why we have all kind of laws to incentivise people make healthier choices. Like a sugar tax on drinks, very high taxes on alcohol and tobacco. And these taxes increase year by year. As of april 1, 2023, a package of 20 cigarettes will cost 9 Euro. That's € 9,79. That's what is used to subsidize healthcare among others.

[@TanyaQueen182]

All I want to do is hit the like button over and over and over again. 💛

[@davidbourgeois856]

This is wonderful technology but it's very sad that it isn't available to almost anyone.

[@sheilabarron5532]

This story is Wonderful ✌💙

[@lisaevans7293]

I cant believe its not covered by insurance

[@Mandy-rx7rq]

We have the NHS here in the UK. I wish there was NHS around the world. Beautiful girls

[@ttee6990]

socialized medicine is trash. people are on waiting lists for the smallest thing. and they choose who gets what medical treatment. its thier choice who gets health! that is communist to me. whereas the system in usa isnt the greatest either. but we get healthcare here as well. most people are on some health insurance. we have government funded insurance for those who are eligible. there is no perfect solution.

[@Jeannelawes]

@@ttee6990 OH dear.... Propaganda and bent truth, My husband gets taken by hospital transport to dialysis 3 times a week, no cost. And should there be an emergency to me or my family, call an ambulance (you won't be asked 'do you have insurance?) You say 'most people are on some health insurance' what happens to those who haven't? Thank God I live here. Don't believe everything you read or hear. Question Everything I say. Just watch this:- kzbin.info/www/bejne/aF6lfKGHaM-HoKM....... in spanish and spoken english.

[@bo0tsy1]

Glad they can hear. Great Parents

[@user-ep3ed5jd7q]

They are precious, beautiful little girls. God Bless….xox

[@kw9568]

Awwww I want this job!

[@PamelaMou1]

Thank goodness for the National Health ( GB) we pay for this with tax. Let's hope America can give this to more people who need it.

[@aaabbb-lw3ob]

Beautiful !

[@rexdv8]

I admit, I cried with mom.

[@wendy8561]

Beautiful story may God continue to bless each and every one of you that helps these little girls and all of the young children and adults ❤️

[@MostPowerfulPMofIndia]

Beautiful I just love tiny humans I want to be a mother teacher leader

[@cydkriletich6538]

Are they Canadian? Their accents sound somewhat Canadian. Precious little sisters. 💞

[@edithseelhoff3471]

i got implanted a couple of months ago in my left ear how are the girls doing

[@wendy8561]

Can I ask a question when did this hearing treatment become available I have a deaf friend that I am thinking about 💜

[@sharonbeckett721]

Just beautiful 😘

[@patriciarussell7487]

To have to pay,so your children can hear.Wow.

[@rosaliegosalie]

god bless america though right ?

[@Runslik3Wind]

@@rosaliegosalie I mean its because Americans pay for these treatments that they exist to begin with. its why if you had a terminal or rare illness there's nowhere else in the world you would rather be.

[@rosaliegosalie]

@@Runslik3Wind false

[@Runslik3Wind]

@@rosaliegosalieabsofuckinglutely true.

[@rosaliegosalie]

@@Runslik3Wind American exceptionalism is a fallacy in your mind

[@albertstelletell53]

Thats life my god parents were deaf they didnt get this chance but these kids 2 day can get this help

[@StephenNultyToxteth]

Great job this hospital and the parents are doing, but it is so appalling that in the richest country in the world parents are expected to find thousands of dollars to pay for such treatment.

[@shadrach6299]

Stephen Nulty Louisiana pays for 2 implants with Medicaid. Even in old Louisiana.

[@hannahlouisefitzpatrick6742]

Across the border in Canada, the implants would have been provided free of charge by our Medicare system.

[@farmwife7944]

They are covered by hmo’s in NY. I know because I did the prior approval for them in the health insurance company that I worked for. The parents need to shop around for coverage because the implants are covered here in the US

[@harshadmacwan431]

My baby boy also that problem hearing loss

[@gerikyte3286]

Another fabulous Australian invention

[@gabriellasenziani3267]

Ciao che belli bambini sono belli ciao

[@jamesparker3189]

The public should buy the technology and hire its own personnel to do the operation and to program the device . No one should be deprived of hearing.

[@joannamcinnes916]

It is shameful that a country so rich that it can spend $trillions on arms does not have a national health service. There must be deaf and blind children who could hear and see but can't get help because their parents are poor

[@harrietgate]

Agree so strongly with all the comments. Born in the UK where everything is covered to feeling outraged when I saw the gross injustices of the USA.

[@SHurd-rc2go]

In the UK, a huge amount of money is spent on children with various birth defects, half of this number is because in some cultures, first cousins marry. Generation after generation.

[@grannylynn3113]

In the USA costs keep lots of people from getting the care they need. You have to be totally destitute to qualify for medical aid from government programs. They don't, however, cover the expenses of travel, lodging, or meals for the family member that goes with the patient. Sometimes the government and insurance won't pay for needed care and instead pays for second-rate meds and treatments. All this UNLESS you are an illegal immigrant...and they are sucking the country dry.

[@vittorioproli2903]

Insurance not covering such an important device ? Healthcare in US is really shocking.

[@paul1x1]

Universal health care is the only way you can’t leave this up to the generosity of people as impressive as it is health care for all is a right not a pay me situation look at these kids in my country this is emotionally tough no financial implications at all your country is the richest in the history of the planet it’s time

[@juliestillman9389]

Those girls will always be deaf even with a cochlear. I hope they do teach them sign language. Being deaf isn't a bad thing.

[@xoi100dong]

It is rather a choice. And the parents did what they think is the best choice for their girls. At least respect that and you can tell them to make commitment to what they doing, rather then tell them otherwise.

[@juliestillman9389]

Absolutely it is a choice and I'm sorry if it I came off too strong. I just got angry at how they were acting like having a cochlear implant "heals" them and they are no longer deaf, which that is a lie, they will always be deaf. They just have a device that helps them to hear. I just feel like them saying that comes off as being deaf is wrong and the parents should opt for this to be done instead of embracing a new way of life. Yes, life will be hard for them, even with the device but I just don't see the point of getting it done so it will be easier for the parents (Not claiming that the parents did it for that reason, just saying in general). If my child was born deaf or became deaf for whatever the reason, I'd embrace it and try to get my child the assistance they will need without trying to "fix" them. And if later in life they want it without pressure from anyone then I would support it but I wouldn't want to make that choice for them.

[@vickil6325]

Julie - I for one received two cochlear surgeries in 2011. I was 57-58 yrs old at the time. I was becoming deaf. One point you are right about those who are deaf will always be deaf. People with hearings are blessed by God to hear. So why can't the deaf take a leap of faith if they were given a chance to hear at all? God allowed me to get my hearing back plus more. It is His gift to me. May God be glorified. Do you wear glasses? It is your choice to want to see better. If you wear glasses, no doubt you understand why it is okay for the deaf to experienced something positive. Perhaps this video (I didnt watch it through as I began reading people's comments I stop temporary) gave the incorrect concept of being no more deaf when wearing the cochlear device. The device only served to assist the hearing loss. Same for wearing the glasses to see better. It would be a lie if someone tell you that you no longer have impaired sight when wearing glasses only when you take them off, then let truth unfold. God loves people and desire for them to live a full life as possible meaning God gave us choices to received His gifts if we allow it. My experienced in God's presence, His Holy Spirit was a positive one and I so cherished it in 2011 after I had surgery on my one ear. At the time, I wore a hearing aid on the other ear and the cochlear on the other ear. I was on the computer listening to sounds and to learn what sounds are like and to identified the sounds. I listened to a song, Amazing Grace and it was the most beautiful music (no voice singing at the time yet - just instruments) I ever heard (so I thought) and God appears in His Holy Spirit and spoke, "It's okay to go back". My spirit became humbled in His presence, ah, so sweet and dear. Because of what He spoke, I quit attending to my church for a few years due to my hearing loss and the lack of communication with my friends at church. God is faithful. All He was telling me that it IS okay to go back to be with my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ and have fellowship with them and attends church services which I truly enjoyed these days. God wanted to show me that I am able to communicate with my friends. I would leave the word "FIX' out and just use the word "CORRECT". We should hold onto the hope that God gave us. God is love and patience.

[@shadrach6299]

Julie Stillman Their lives will be greatly improved.

[@shadrach6299]

Julie Stillman I'm a Speech Pathologist and I worked with the deaf for three years. Being deaf is an educational disaster! They never read above 3rd grade level and they never have math skills above the 5th grade level. If an implant can improve these statistics, I'm all for it. You realize how impaired they are when you work on vocabulary skills with them. The definitions they have for common words are astoundingly wrong. And don't try to correct them. They go ballistic and try to argue you down if you try to correct them. I worked in a deaf program that used singing exact English. The results on their State exams were abysmal. Total failure. Don't tell me being deaf is no problem. The teachers were all butt hurt bc the program was a failure. Cued speech is the best manual technique. The American Sign Language sign for "I got wet in the rain" translates as "rain bad bad".

[@maureenmckenna5220]

Beyond belief that this is not covered by insurance. Not surprised, insurance companies being what they are, but saddened for families who need this and have to struggle with the funding. Hearing, or lack of it, inhibits normal development in every way. No way that this should be optional coverage for children. Hearing is everything in life, like sight. So glad for this family but disappointed that in the wealthiest country in the world cannot provide a service for kids that changes lives.

[@twingytwango6971]

Unbelievable that their health insurance doesn't cover it!!! Only in America!!!

[@davidto7816]

Godless you baby

[@Justin-zz4yh]

Are you going to learn sign with them, so they have more communication tools? Even with their CI's, they're still, "Deaf." CI's are not, "cures." What happens when the devices fail, & they're left without other ways to communicate? Do you know how exhausting it is, to only be forced to be oral?

[@v2talk]

Thank the human endeavour and modern technology and medicine that gave this little child with gift of hearing that no amount of prayer placebo would ever give

[@MegaSickcat]

Isn't there something that can test a baby BEFORE??? These things cost a FORTUNE.

[@kayocaldas814]

Mmnnn

[@elainekayes8087]

Must be heredity

[@SHurd-rc2go]

Yes, genetic. Both parents have the recessive gene.

[@johnnycotrel7413]

Of course it's costly,not with any true honest justification though,the medical industry knows they can get away with it.It's funny because they would say something like how can you put a price on your kid or whoever but yet here they just did.

[@Shads62]

must have cost a fortune...

[@Ckawauchi35]

Greedy, bastard health insurance companies! It is everyone's right to get assistance w all 5 basic senses but they gave themselves the right to refuse it without extracting huge, extra payments. You just wish there is instant karma so they will wake up and realize that life isn't all about money.

[@Jeannelawes]

Why no free healthcare in the richest country in the world. eveywhere else does. Americans need to wake up to their cruel government(s)

[@aucourant9998]

When you think that the US government has provided over $200 billion to Ukraine for war, it's so sad to think what could have been done with that money to help people like this.