Deaf girl (2) wins over Lions
''Payton Peters is a beautiful, two-year-old girl who likes nothing more than to bully her four-year-old brother, but, unfortunately, she cannot hear him sneaking up on her.''
This is how Payton’s parents, Michael Peters and Michelle van Zyl, described the effects of their daughter’s bilateral hearing loss on a website.
The site is dedicated to telling her story and raising funds for an operation to restore her hearing.
The lively Payton, now 28 months old, will undergo a cochlear implant in one of her ears, on July 22.
In May, last year, Payton picked up an upper respiratory infection and, in June, her parents noticed that she had stopped speaking and responding to calls.
At first, doctors thought she needed grommets, but after receiving them, there was no change in her condition.
After months and several ear tests, she was diagnosed with bilateral hearing loss on February 28.
Although the Linksfield resident currently wears the strongest hearing aids on the market, her hearing is still so bad she communicates to her parents through gestures.
Payton’s parents received their single biggest financial donation toward the implant from the Benoni van Rhyn Lions Club.
Several of the club’s members handed over the R20 000 cheque to the family at the Cocoa Coffee Lounge and Bar, in Northmead, on June 28.
Lions member Beaulieu Mare said the club’s donation is going to a worthy cause.
The Lions heard about Payton’s condition and decided it would be fitting to assist her in light of Helen Keller Day, which was celebrated on June 1.
Helen Keller became blind and deaf at the age of 18.
She later learnt sign language and Braille and became an advocate for persons with disabilities.
A total of R400 000 is needed for the procedure on one of her ears.
Michelle said she and Michael have been conducting various fund-raisers to raise a full R800 000.
There are still plans to host a golf day, a raffle and a high tea.
With only one ear undergoing the procedure, Payton will not be able to identify from where sounds are coming.
For every month, after the age of two, the little girl will have to undergo an extra nine months speech therapy.
Michelle said the family has received amazing support from people in their fund-raising attempts.
”We have been incredibly blessed – from our support system and friends – everyone has just jumped in and helped,” said Michelle at the cheque handover.
To get involved, visit www.helppaytonhear.co.za.
