500th cochlear implant celebrated in Nottingham
On Saturday 11th March a double celebration was held at Nottingham Castle, to mark a landmark achievement in the number of cochlear implant operations carried out at Queen's Medical Centre (QMC).
The start of the party was marked by the release of hundreds of balloons and the 120-strong party included staff from the hospital as well as adult and child patients with their families.
Kings of the castle for the day were 59-year-old David Walton and two-year-old William Ryan. David is the 100th adult and William is the 500th child to receive a cochlear implant at the QMC-based Nottingham Cochlear Implant Programme since it began 17 years ago in 1989. Both have very different stories to tell, but both have had their lives transformed since undergoing the operation.
David gradually went deaf over a number of years, probably due to being exposed to gunfire as an instructor in the army cadets. Being deaf made it very difficult to carry out his work and take part in meetings. Now he is able to hear again and is enjoying life to the full.
William was diagnosed as deaf when he was a very young baby, but when hearing aids were not able to help him, he was referred to the Cochlear Implant Programme. He received his implant when he was just 20 months old and his parents are delighted with his progress since the operation.
