Eleven-month-old Leah Strydom relies on donations to receive the gift of hearing.
The soon-to-be one-year-old was born on September 23, 2023, and her family will celebrate this day with great excitement as this day is also Deaf Awareness Month.
According to Leah’s mother Amanda, her little girl was born with a rare condition that left her with varying degrees of hearing loss in both ears – something that is unusual in congenital hearing losses.
Amanda recently explained that Leah’s hearing in her left ear has deteriorated since the initial tests she underwent. Because of this, Leah’s left hearing aid is deemed inadequate and Leah now requires a cochlear implant.
In addition to hearing loss, she also exhibited developmental delays and physical tremors. After several follow-up examinations and an MRI scan, a mild brain injury was diagnosed on the left side of her supratentorial brain.
“However, we are deeply grateful to God, our Creator, because Leah’s brain has already begun to bypass the damaged area and form new pathways that support her development. She is making good progress, albeit on her own path. The adaptability of her brain is nothing short of a miracle,” Amanda explained.
Despite successfully healing from her brain injury, Leah’s hearing loss and developmental disabilities affect her hearing and communication skills. To help Leah communicate despite her disability, Amanda has been trying to teach her South African Sign Language (SASL).
“We travel to Pretoria for all her medical appointments and hope to find a speech therapist in the area who can help her with her auditory training and speech therapy,” Amanda said.
Although they are currently working on a solution that will make it easier for Leah to communicate, there are financial challenges.
“We are now faced with the challenge of raising R372 462 to cover the cost of the cochlear implant for Leah’s left ear, thereby restoring 80 to 100% of her hearing and supporting her overall development,” she explained.
In addition, the cost of speech therapy will be added to Leah’s recovery.
“The last few months have been emotionally and financially stressful for us as we address Leah’s medical needs and seek the best possible care for her,” she explained.
Despite all this, baby Leah is still smiling brightly.
“Leah is a very happy baby who is always laughing and playing. She has adapted to her hearing aids and responds very well when she wears them. When you put them on her, she immediately starts babbling,” Amanda said.
She added that Leah tells them when she is overstimulated and that she has learned to take her hearing aids off herself. Although Amanda explained that the situation is not as emotionally taxing on Leah, she claimed that the challenges are like a mountain for her as a parent.
“It’s emotional and exhausting. Watching Leah struggle with hearing loss and developmental issues while trying to provide her with the best care possible is both heartbreaking and motivating. The support of friends and family has been a glimmer of hope,” she said.
As a mother, Amanda wants to raise awareness of the potential complications that can be caused by pregnancy-related illnesses, adding that a simple virus can have far-reaching consequences that are difficult to predict.
“We humbly ask for your prayers, support and generosity as we seek to get Leah the cochlear implant she needs. We know God works through the hearts and hands of His people and we trust He will provide. Every contribution brings us closer to our goal of giving Leah the gift of hearing,” she said.
She also said, “We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being part of Leah’s journey. We praise God for His care and the blessings yet to come.”
Amanda has joined the Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss in SA, which will process all donations and distribute them to the departments.
If anyone would like to contact Leah’s parents, they can contact Leah’s on facebook. Page Baby Leah Strydom or contact Erika Basson on 012 333 3130. Also email [email protected].
