World Photo by Jolene Guzman Audiologist Jennifer Scarbrough shows Reedsport High School Senior Tonni Willis how to attach and detach a small hearing device to an implant behind her left ear. Tonni suddenly lost hearing in her left ear a year and a half ago. The hearing device will give her complete hearing again.

Tonni Willis will have a crowd at her house this Thanksgiving, and this year, she will hear every bit of what is going on.

Thanks to the generosity of people on the South Coast and local health care professionals, the Reedsport High School senior said she has much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Last year it was different. In August 2007, the Reedsport teenager suddenly lost hearing in her left ear. The condition left her unable to determine the direction sounds were coming from. After a year-and-a-half-long journey, Tonni has complete hearing again. 

On Friday, an audiologist fitted her ear with a small black box that would help her process sound on her left side. The box is detachable and small enough to be covered by her hair.

Clinical audiologist Jennifer Scarbrough said the implant won’t allow Tonni to hear with her left ear, but convert the sound into vibrations that travel through the bones in her skull to her right ear. That gives her with the ability to “hear” sounds on her left side.

The small device did something else, too: It brought a big excited smile to Tonni’s face that didn’t disappear.

“It feels good,” Tonni said simply. “I can feel the vibrations.”

Tonni’s mother Diana was sitting on her left side during the fitting.

“Can you hear me?” she asked.

Tonni quickly answered yes.

She said little about the new sensation, but the brightened look in her big blue eyes spoke volumes.

Tonni’s life will be easier. She no longer will have to search for the source of sounds or think about where to sit in school or other activities to hear what is going on.

“You are going to be more relaxed,” Scarbrough said. “It’s like you are going to be on vacation.”

Dr. Walleye Webster, an ear, nose and throat doctor at North Bend Medical Center, donated the surgery to install the titanium implant to which the hearing device connects. Webster said he offered the surgery because he thought Tonni shouldn’t have to go to Portland to have it when it could be done here.

“One of the reasons people like to come to small communities is to participate and help the people you can,” he said. “Reedsport to Coos Bay is far enough.”

A number of other community members and organizations joined Webster  in helping Tonni hear. When her family was short of money and running out of time to pay for the implant, a man from Gold Beach anonymously stepped forward.  Others lined up help pay travel costs for Tonni’s appointments, which included several trips to Portland, and other medical expenses.

Their generosity allowed Tonni to walk out of the medical center Friday with the gift of complete hearing.

“I’m thankful to have such a community,”  Tonni said. “And not just ours, but other communities.”