Ayat Fatima Stepped into the World of Sounds

Ayat Fatima's Story

Ayat Fatima, a 4-year-old girl from Mirpur Khas, Sindh, was unable to hear the sounds around her. At her age when most children learn to speak, Ayat was living in her silent world. Ayat used to avoid playing with kids as she couldn’t understand them. Her parents consulted a doctor about her condition, who conducted some medical tests and diagnosed her with congenital sensorineural hearing loss. The doctor told them that without a cochlear implant, their daughter would continue to live in silence and face challenges in speech development and communication. However, the cost of the surgery was overwhelming for her family.

Ayat lived in a three-room brick house with her five family members. Her father, the sole breadwinner of the family, was a shopkeeper and earned just PKR 20,000 monthly. With this insufficient monthly income, they struggled to make ends meet. The cost of her cochlear implant surgery was overwhelming and beyond what they could ever afford. Heartbroken, Ayat’s parents feared their daughter would never hear their voices or speak her first words. That’s when her parents contacted Transparent Hands. After learning about her situation, we registered her case.

On 30th August 2024, Ayat was admitted to GIMS Hospital in Gambat. The surgery took place on 31st August 2024. Dr. Maqbool Ahmed skillfully inserted the internal component of the cochlear implant. After receiving post-operative care and critical monitoring, Ayat was discharged in satisfactory condition on 1st September 2024.

The external component of the cochlear implant was installed six weeks after the surgery. With regular follow-ups and speech therapy sessions, Ayat’s communication skills are improving now.
Her parents were filled with joy as they saw her respond to their voices for the first time. Ayat’s parents shared their overwhelming gratitude as follows:

“We never imagined Ayat would be able to hear us. It’s a dream come true. We are so thankful to you for making this surgery a reality.”

Ayat’s life has been forever changed. Her family extends their heartfelt thanks to you for your support, allowing her to hear the sounds around her.