Mauricio heard his parents’ voices for the first time.
The 11-year-old Venezuelan boy has spent his entire life without knowing what the world around him sounds like. He knows how to communicate using sign language and is happy with what he has, but this new step in his healthcare has transformed the way he experiences the world.
After spending some time creating content to raise awareness of his situation, Mauricio’s family was finally able to buy a hearing device. It’s a small device that does much more than it seems, and the boy’s reaction says it all:
Now begins a period of adjustment and speech therapy to learn how to process new stimuli, identify sounds, and eventually develop oral communication skills. They also need to raise money for a permanent device that will allow him to hear more clearly and permanently.
Meanwhile, Mauricio will continue learning and adapting, because his joy and motivation to move forward are greater than the difficulties life has imposed on him so far. 🥹