Help Payton hear
JOBURG - Little two-year-old Payton Peters has seen the inside of a hospital room more often in her short existence than many people do in a lifetime.
In February, she was diagnosed with severe bilateral hearing loss, and a barrage of treatments began.
After months of unsuccessful trials with hearing aids, Peters was approved for cochlear implant surgery. Cochlear implants are surgically implanted electronic devices that bypass the damaged part of the inner ear and stimulate the auditory nerve, allowing a person with hearing loss to recognise sounds and learn to speak.
After a five-hour operation, Peters is now embarking on the long process of being gradually introduced to the sounds around her. But for her family, the battle is far from over.
Help Payton Hear is a fundraising venture started to help Peters’ parents afford the extensive testing, operations and equipment that they need to help their little girl overcome her hearing loss. Not only are cochlear implants prohibitively expensive, but so are Peters’ check-ups and speech therapy which present ongoing expenses.
To raise funds for Peters’ cochlear implant treatment, Help Payton Hear will hold an auction at Broadacres Shopping Centre, Fourways on 23 August between 10.30am and 2.30pm. The auction will offer a wide variety of desirable items, from sports memorabilia and electronics, to vouchers, hampers and weekends away.
The fundraiser asks all members of the public to contribute to Peters’ future by joining in the fun and bidding at the auction. Those who can’t attend are encouraged to donate items for auction, buy a raffle ticket, or simply donate money towards the cochlear implants.
Details: Di 083 302 6240; Michelle 083 391 1850; www.helppaytonhear.co.za
