This is the heartwarming moment a baby who was born deaf heard his parents’ voices for the first time after getting his cochlear implant activated.
Sarah, 21, and Cole Pfaffman, 26, from Jacksonville, Florida, welcomed baby Georgie into the world on November 27, 2023.
Though the couple thought they’d had an uncomplicated pregnancy, they were shocked to learn that a virus Sarah had contracted had impacted their newborn’s hearing.
The cytomegalovirus (CMV) Sarah caught had attacked Georgie’s brain and hearing, leaving him completely deaf on one side.
The virus had also meant that the left side of his brain didn’t form correctly and he was left with cerebral palsy on the right side of his body.
Sarah Pfaffman, 21, and Cole Pfaffman, 26, from Jacksonville, Florida, welcomed baby Georgie (pictured) into the world on November 27, 2023
This is the adorable moment baby Georgie heard his parents’ voices for the first time after getting his cochlear implant activated
Georgie was also born two weeks premature at just 35 weeks and was placed in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit).
In spite of these struggles, Georgie continued to grow with the support of his parents and had his cochlear implant activated on two weeks ago on October 15.
In the touching clip, parents Sarah and Cole could be heard telling Georgie they love him.
In response to hearing their voices for the first time, the baby’s face lit up in a delighted smile as he beamed at his mother and father.
Sarah, a full-time mother, said: ‘The moment Georgie’s implant got activated felt like Christmas and it’s felt like Christmas every day since.
‘It felt like a gift from God, like a miracle, and now a whole new world opens up for Georgie.
‘And he loves it so much. Everything is so new and exciting!
‘He likes to watch things he’s enjoyed looking at before like the washing machine and vacuum and discover the sound that goes along to it. He especially loves trying to talk and listening to music.’
Though the couple thought they’d had an uncomplicated pregnancy, they were shocked to learn that a virus Sarah had contracted with carrying Georgie, had impacted his hearing. Pictured hearing his parents for the first time
Sarah and Cole were informed that their son was deaf after he failed infant hearing tests at just five days old
Sarah and Cole Pfaffman, from Jacksonville, Florida, pictured with baby Georgie
Sarah, a full-time mother, said: ‘The moment Georgie’s implant got activated felt like Christmas and it’s felt like Christmas every day since’
Sarah and Cole were informed that their son was deaf after he failed infant hearing tests at just five days old.
Sarah said: ‘Georgie was born early at 35 weeks and was taken to the NICU where he failed his hearing tests.
‘After he left the NICU, we took him to an audiologist where we found out he has profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, meaning he can’t hear at all.
‘He had to then wear hearing aids for four months to see if they would help but no luck.’
Luckily, there was an option available that could offer Georgie the chance of being able to hear.
Sarah continued: ‘Eventually, on September 23 of this year, Georgie had his surgery to install the implant and his activation day was three weeks later.’
Although the ability to hear will no doubt help Georgie, Sarah admitted she still struggles with the fact that the virus she contracted was treatable and that doctors failed warn her about the potentially life changing consequences.
Sarah continued: ‘Eventually, on September 23 of this year, Georgie had his surgery to install the implant and his activation day was three weeks later’
Luckily, there was an option available that could offer Georgie the chance of being able to hear
Although the ability to hear will no doubt help Georgie, Sarah admitted she still struggles with the fact that the virus she contracted was treatable and that doctors failed warn her about the potentially life changing consequences
Sarah caught cytomegalovirus (CMV) during her second trimester, which presented like a normal cold
Frustrated the avoidable complications that Georgie has been left with, Sarah said: ‘I feel pretty let down by the medical professionals around me at the time
Sarah caught cytomegalovirus (CMV) during her second trimester, which presented like a normal cold.
Though she thought she was just experiencing a run of the mill virus, it later turned out that the mother-of-one had an illness that was causing irreversible harm to her baby.
Frustrated the avoidable complications that Georgie has been left with, Sarah said: ‘I feel pretty let down by the medical professionals around me at the time.
‘I had no idea this cold I was having could be potentially harmful to my child.
‘I now go to counselling every week because I have had to deal with internal struggle of the fact Georgie is hurt because I got sick.’