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Surprise donation fills surgery gap
By Jolene Guzman, Staff Writer
Thursday, August 28, 2008 | 1 comment(s)
The surgery had been canceled.
Incoming Reedsport High School senior Tonni Willis was going to have to wait longer for surgery to restore her hearing because her family didn’t have the money necessary for an electronic implant.
That was until a last-minute phone call and a wire-transferred donation big enough to cover the remaining costs. A man from Gold Beach provided a $2,800 contribution, enough to put Tonni’s mother, Diana Willis, back on the phone to the North Bend Medical Center to reschedule the surgery.
“She was excited,” Willis said. “We were able to keep the same date and time for the surgery.”
Tonni hasn’t been able to hear with her left ear since suddenly losing her hearing on that side a year ago. After seeing a number of doctors, she was diagnosed with sensori-neural hearing loss. Doctors said it could have a number of causes, including long periods of loud noise, disease, high fevers or loud music played on music players.
An ear implant and equipment from manufacturer Cochlear of Englewood, Colo., will cost about $5,600.
North Bend Medical Center and Dr. Wallace Webster, an ear, nose and throat physician, had agreed to donate the surgery necessary for Tonni, whose family lacks the insurance to pay for the procedure. But, as the deadline for arranging payment arrived, the Aug. 22 appointment was canceled.
Then came the donation. Diana Willis hurriedly rescheduled the surgery.
Tonni had the first part of the surgery Friday to correct the sudden hearing loss. The rest of the procedure, which will include fitting the hearing aid part of the implant, will take place in November.
Willis said the implant will not restore hearing to Tonni’s left ear, but rather transfer the sound to her right ear. Though Tonni won’t actually be hearing with her left ear, her brain will think she is. The trick will allow her to determine which direction sounds are coming from and hear sounds on her left side.
The surgery took a little more than an hour, and Tonni was able to go home immediately afterward, Willis said. Tonni had a little muscle soreness after the procedure, but also the knowledge she has taken the first step to complete hearing.
“We are so grateful,” Willis said. “I can’t say that enough.”
Incoming Reedsport High School senior Tonni Willis was going to have to wait longer for surgery to restore her hearing because her family didn’t have the money necessary for an electronic implant.
That was until a last-minute phone call and a wire-transferred donation big enough to cover the remaining costs. A man from Gold Beach provided a $2,800 contribution, enough to put Tonni’s mother, Diana Willis, back on the phone to the North Bend Medical Center to reschedule the surgery.
“She was excited,” Willis said. “We were able to keep the same date and time for the surgery.”
Tonni hasn’t been able to hear with her left ear since suddenly losing her hearing on that side a year ago. After seeing a number of doctors, she was diagnosed with sensori-neural hearing loss. Doctors said it could have a number of causes, including long periods of loud noise, disease, high fevers or loud music played on music players.
An ear implant and equipment from manufacturer Cochlear of Englewood, Colo., will cost about $5,600.
North Bend Medical Center and Dr. Wallace Webster, an ear, nose and throat physician, had agreed to donate the surgery necessary for Tonni, whose family lacks the insurance to pay for the procedure. But, as the deadline for arranging payment arrived, the Aug. 22 appointment was canceled.
Then came the donation. Diana Willis hurriedly rescheduled the surgery.
Tonni had the first part of the surgery Friday to correct the sudden hearing loss. The rest of the procedure, which will include fitting the hearing aid part of the implant, will take place in November.
Willis said the implant will not restore hearing to Tonni’s left ear, but rather transfer the sound to her right ear. Though Tonni won’t actually be hearing with her left ear, her brain will think she is. The trick will allow her to determine which direction sounds are coming from and hear sounds on her left side.
The surgery took a little more than an hour, and Tonni was able to go home immediately afterward, Willis said. Tonni had a little muscle soreness after the procedure, but also the knowledge she has taken the first step to complete hearing.
“We are so grateful,” Willis said. “I can’t say that enough.”
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