Breaking the Silence
Mickie Oliva’s oldest son Jeffrey was diagnosed with severe hearing loss when he was a toddler. Then her younger children, Stephen and Gina, were also born deaf. The Olivas consulted with internationally-recognized faculty at the University of Miami Ear Institute. Ultimately, all three children received cochlear implants which allow deaf patients to regain hearing.
Today, Jeffrey is 17, Stephen is 11 and Gina is 7. All three children are doing well in mainstream schools and are able to keep up with their classmates. They don’t have to lip-read and they can enjoy music and sports. They are living normal, healthy lives instead of being isolated in a solitary world of silence.
“Jeffrey is so thrilled to be able to participate,” Mickie says. “He plays golf as much as he can and is on the school’s golf team. He also has two jobs. It takes a lot of effort but he does it and he’s included in the hearing world. It’s so good for him to be in the mainstream now. He has so many more opportunities.”
This is only one example of the exciting medical advances happening every day at the UM Miller School of Medicine. By supporting our ground-breaking research, you help us improve the lives of your friends and neighbors right here in South Florida.
Please click here to listen to Mickie Oliva’s story
Please click here to make a gift to the UM Ear Institute or UM Dept. of Otolaryngology
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