Jordan ready to explore the world
Jordan van der Merwe is responding well after having his second cochlear implant switched on.
“I can hardly believe that two months ago our little boy couldn’t hear and now he mimics planes.”
These are the emotional words of Nicoleen van der Merwe, whose 16-month-old son Jordan has had his second cochlear implant, which was fitted in December and successfully switched on, on January 19.
The GCN first met Jordan and his parents (Nicoleen and Dwyne) in August, last year and has followed his amazing journey since then.
Jordan’s first cochlear implant was fitted in September, and switched on in October.
“We were just so happy that he was responding to sound,” Nicoleen remembers.
“We couldn’t wait for our little boy to hear our voices.”
Nicoleen explained that Jordan is really doing well after his operations and has started mimicking blowing kisses including the hand gesture and sound.
“It is simply amazing, we are so happy,” she said.
The little boy has also started making a “ma” sound, but the couple aren’t sure if he’s trying to say mamma or mimicking a sheep.
“Any new sound he makes is a great achievement, whether he calls me or a sheep, I don’t care,” Nicoleen said with a laugh.
“We can be two rooms away and call out to him and he’ll come and find us, I can’t describe how happy that makes me.”
The once fearful, insecure little boy now explores the house without his parents and is even interacting more at school.
“I often find myself just staring at him or calling his name just to see him respond, it makes me smile every time,” said Nicoleen.
The family will continue their fund-raising efforts this year in order to pay the final medical bills accumulated during Jordan’s procedures, as well as to help with the maintenance of the devices themselves.
“It still makes me nervous that we may not be able to manage if something goes wrong with one of the devices,” said Nicoleen.
The family once again thanked the community for their support, “Your support has meant the world to us and every little bit has helped us come closer to our goals,” Nicoleen said.
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