Taylor Beth (5) will finally hear on both ears - just in time for 'big school'

Taylor Beth with her parents John and Alison and baby brother Flynn.

BY SEÁN P. FEENY
LAST week marked another milestone in the life of a young Donegal girl who moved one step closer to hearing with both ears.
On Friday morning Taylor Beth McFadden (5) had a second Cochlear implant inserted at Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin.

The young Letterkenny girl, whom the Donegal News first introduced when she was two years old, will finally be able to hear through both ears for the first time in four weeks after being diagnosed as profoundly deaf aged 19 months.

Taylor Beth’s parents John and Alison McFadden are members of the Happy New Ear campaign which canvassed tirelessly, and successfully, to get the government to fund bilateral Cochlear implants for deaf children in Ireland.

In December, 2013 it was announced that €3.22million had been allocated to introduce the provision of bilateral hearing implants as part of the 2014 HSE Service Plan. The HSE began rolling out bilateral implants (inserting two implants at the same time) last summer, while not forgetting those children who already had one implant.

Alison, a co-founder of the Happy New Ear campaign, said a couple of Taylor Beth’s friends in Dundalk have already received their second implant and the young girl was now dying to get hers, too. “Taylor Beth wants two ears just like everyone else and she is really excited.”

Don’t miss tomorrow’s print edition of the Donegal News on Friday for the full update on little Taylor Beth McFadden.

John and Alison McFadden with their daughter Taylor Beth when we first met her, aged 2. Photo: Donna McBride

Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere