Skye Carter was born completely deaf. As a baby, her family was told she had no hope for ever hearing, they should learn sign language and that Skye should go to the school for the deaf. Skye gained the ability to hear after cochlear implant surgery at 20 months old. Today, Skye enjoys playing instruments and dancing. She attends a regular school. Thanks to the Alfred Mann Foundation and the technical innovation of the cochlear implant, we helped this child realize the miracle of sound and have the opportunity to live a full life.
Cecilia was born with a severe hearing impairment. Having a deaf child, her parents felt a sense of loss. They tried many different hearing aids with only a small benefit. Cecilia was the ideal candidate for the next level of technology, the cochlear implant. She has become an excellent student, enjoys laughing with friends and playing sports. Thanks to the Innovation of the cochlear implant developed at the Alfred Mann Foundation, Cecilia considers herself a hearing person and can’t imagine being without a cochlear implant because “sound is a part of every second of your life”.
James Sides served as a Staff Sgt. in the US Marine Corps. While deployed in Afghanistan he lost his right hand attempting to defuse a bomb. James called his fiancée Amy and left a voice mail message saying he got hurt and that he would try and call back soon. While James and Amy are a normal couple they have an extraordinary love story. They never gave up. While his body was broken, his spirit was not.
James was the first recipient in the world to receive a bionic hand with the Implantable Myoelectric Sensors system created by the Alfred Mann Foundation. The IMES sensors pick up signals from his brain to move his bionic hand. “It’s like I have a hand again” he said. James was able to hold hands with Amy while he put the wedding ring on her finger, and hold both her hands in both of his.
Thanks to the Alfred Mann Foundation and its Implantable Myoelectric Sensor system, Jimmy and Amy can focus on a bright future.
