Help fund a cochlear implant surgery for 18 month old baby

Raising a funding campaign as I came across the story of Marc Alexander, 18 month baby boy born in Haiti and diagnosed bilaterally deaf (both ears).

Long story short, Haiti does not have the proper medical infrastructure and the government support to help this little boy get a cochlear implant surgery that would give him the ability to hear and speak. The longer he waits to get the implant, the more irreversible speech and development delay will occur. 

This would cost USD 30,000 including a trip abroad to get the surgery done (I myself have done research for my daughter and no kidding, it really cost that much). I spoke to his mother who didn't know what to do and who to turn to, and I felt the need to help them. 

As a French national and a Hong Kong resident , and as a mother of a 6 months deaf baby myself, my family is fortunate enough to have access to the best-in-class health support, excellent medical care and infrastructure ...and this is all (or almost) FREE!! We tend to forget how lucky we are. This little boy does not share our luck.Please take some time to read his story, DONATE and SHARE THIS POST to help him get access to a cochlear implant surgery, this amazing, life changing technology that will give him back the gift of hearing and speech.Carine

Story of Marc Alexandre:

Hello everyone. We are Kamaïa and Darlin Jeanty, parents of 18 months old Marc-Alexandre. We live Haiti, one of the most under-developed country in the world.We suspected the deafness of our son when he was 2 months and a half, as he was not reacting to sound.

Due to lack of medical resources and infrastructure in Haiti, we were unable to obtain a diagnosis right away. When Marc-Alexandre turned 12 months old, we had been recommended to have him checked out in Republic Dominican. Without a second of hesitation, we took out all of our savings and bought a flight for the 3 of us to go meet an ENT specialist there.

The results were devastating: Marc-Alexandre was diagnosed bilaterally deaf (both ears). We were not sure what to do or where to turn. We do not know if he would ever say, "I love you Mommy and Daddy." We have prayed for a happy, productive life for Marc-Alexander, and we want him to go to school and someday graduate from university to pursue a career and a life that he chooses.The ENT was adamant that our son needed cochlear implants; Implanting Marc will give him access to sound which will provide him with the only chance of age-appropriate speech and language development. This will provide him the opportunity to a better education and independent employment as an adult in the future. If not implanted, it may lead to permanent changes in the auditory cortex in the brain which may make it impossible to benefit from a cochlear implant or any form of hearing restoration surgery in the future. 

The cochlear implant bypasses the damaged portions of the ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerve. The signals are generated by the implant and are sent passed the auditory nerve to the brain where the signals are recognised as sounds. 

However, the cochlear implants will cost USD$30,000 as we do not have insurance and there is no government social subsidy or help of any kind. We are raising money to pay for medical expenses including surgery, cochlear implant device, and a trip abroad for the surgery.Marc is growing up and as his parents; we know we have to do something.

The only future for our son is to hear with cochlear implants. Just like everyone else, we want to give him the best possible future there is.Life is so precious and this innocent boy who deserves the right to live normally. In advance, we extend our heartfelt thanks for your incredible moral and financial support.

Thank you for helping us change the life of our child.

Kamaïa and Darlin Jeanty