Two years ago, Janice shared with me her financial problem concerning her son Johann Marvel Vince. Johann was diagnosed with Profound Hearing Loss on both ears and the little boy needed cochlear implantation. Johann’s Medical Doctor, Charlotte M. Chiong issued this letter to us and we posted it with the approval from Janice:
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Philippine National Ear Institute
UP-PGH Medical Center
Department of Otorhinolaryngology
2nd Floor Central Block, Philippine General Hospital
Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila 1000
Telephone: 521-8450 local 2153 Telefax 522-0946
September 11, 2008
Greetings!
We would like to refer Johann Marvel Vince Jamora, 3 years and 9 months old, boy, from Mandaue City to your good office for possible financial assistance for cochlear implantation.
Johann is diagnosed with Profound Hearing Loss on both ears as confirmed by a series of audiological tests done on him. Play Audiometry and ABR Studies results showed profound hearing loss on both ears.
Having a profound hearing loss at a very young age will have adverse effect on the child because speech and language development will be compromised as the child would not have any access to daily sounds and speech. Unless intervention is done (amplification) the chance of developing spoken language will be very minimal.
The cochlear implant will provide Johann access to normal daily sounds and voices that will be his guide and catalyst to develop spoken language…and a good chance for a better future.
For any further inquiries, you may contact me at the following numbers; (63-32)522-0946, (63-32)521-8095 & (63-32)521-8450 loc. 2153.
Sincerely yours,
Charlotte M. Chiong, M.D. [signed]
Deputy Director
Philippine National Ear Institute
PRC# 61381
PTR# B5412612A
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Janice’s family doesn’t have the financial capacity to send Johann for the necessary implantation. Coming from an average-income family, her husband runs a small “store” that earns a meager amount for their daily sustenance. Savings from her monthly job salary are not sufficient to even shoulder half the expenses for one ear. Janice and her family are doing their best to collect the needed amount for Johann’s cochlear implantation.
That was when the Salas Foundation came to help. In our utmost desire to help Johann, we asked people with kind hearts to donate a dollar or two for the kid. To our surprise, most donations were no less than $10 and money came from people all over the world.
We have already issued the accumulated donations to Janice’s family. Although, it was not enough to shoulder the cochlear implant that costs thousands of dollars, but it was enough to help the immediate needs of the kid.
Update [July 13, 2010]: Johann now has hearing aids and doing well in school.