Help Sophie hear her students!

I've had issues with my ears since I was born, and had my first of many surgeries when I was a child. It started with ear infections and glue ear; I’ve had grommets implanted to try and fix this and improve my hearing. This impacted my hearing and I got my first set of hearing aids when I was 12. Unfortunately, the hearing aids didn’t work for me because I still had chronic ear infections, so I made it through high school and university struggling to hear.

I had another surgery during university so I could wear my hearing aids, but it didn’t work. I continued to struggle with my hearing. In 2024 I had another surgery, to clear up my middle ear. 4 months after this surgery, I found out they had removed one of my hearing bones without my consent. This resulted in more hearing loss in my right ear.

I’m limited to surgically implanted hearing aids which cost $12,000. Basically, my only choice is to pay this, or try to carry on with my severely restricted hearing.

I’m a high school teacher and I love my job, but I have been struggling to hear my students for the last year. I’m exhausted. I want to carry on with this career for a long time, but unless I can pay for this surgery, I don’t think I will be able to.

While there is some funding available, it is only $500, which leaves me with a significant bill just to have a good quality of life and to be able to do the job I love.

Any contribution, big or small, would truly help with this, and I am so grateful for your support.