Hamilton-based James* contracted meningitis just over two years ago, and as a result, lost the ability to hear and speak. He received cochlear implants in July last year. It’s been a long recovery for the father of two, but through the support of The Hearing House, he’s been able to regain some of his independence and zest for life. Here’s his story:
Forty-nine-year-old James is a doting grandfather to a seven-year-old granddaughter and four-year-old grandson.
In May two years ago, he was suddenly struck with severe pain and was unable to lift his head or move his shoulders or arms.
He put it down to having had his granddaughter on his shoulders two days before and just thought that he’d pulled a muscle.
The pain only got worse, and his mother Tracy* ended up taking him to A&E – by the time he arrived he was struggling to walk.
Medical staff gave him pain medication and sent him home, but his mother said that he continued to suffer.
“I heard a lot of loud moaning and groaning coming from his room, and when I went in to check on him, he was on the floor, and trying to get himself onto the bed.
“I immediately called 111. I was so frightened that we’d lost him,” she says.
Emergency services arrived, and by that stage James was unconscious. He was rushed to hospital.
“About two hours later, the Dr called and said that he was now stable, which was a huge relief. At that stage they didn’t know what was wrong, but were doing all sorts of tests, including a spinal fluid test.
“The following day they called to tell me he had meningitis, and established that it was Pneumococcal Bacterial meningitis. He’d also had multifocal strokes.”
James was in a coma for three weeks
“When he first woke up, he was able to hear and talk and we did a video call with his cousin. It was a huge relief.”
Two days later, James had lost his hearing and his voice.
He was unable to close his eyes and had no control of his mouth or swallowing muscles – he was being fed through a tube. He was also unable to walk on his own.
After a few weeks, his voice started to come back, but he continued to have severe difficulties with his hearing.
A long, hard journey
Surgeons established that James met the criteria for the cochlear implant programme and he received two cochlear implants in July two years ago. The family was warned that it would be a slow recovery process.
On his discharge from hospital, James went to live with his mother as he was unable to care for himself. The local DHB organised carers to come in three times a day to assist him with his daily tasks.
“He’s had a very hard journey, living in a silent world and watching everything going by,” she says.
“Learning to accept help from other people has been a very hard road for him with a lot of challenges – he used to be a very independent young man and it was tough having to realise that he couldn’t do all the things that he was used to doing.
“But he’s been very determined to overcome them and regain some of his independence.”
“His grandchildren are what keeps him going,” says Tracy. “They’re his reason to live.”
Support of The Hearing House has meant so much
“Without The Hearing House, James wouldn’t have had the chance to be able to hear again –we couldn’t have done it without their encouragement and support. It’s meant so much to us.”
James’s ability to process sound is still limited – he’s not able to hear voices, but can make register some sounds.
“We really appreciate what The Hearing House have done for us as a family – from giving James the chance to have implants, through to having the support of audiologist Caroline who comes to see us in Hamilton and check on his progress.”
“I haven’t given up - I keep putting it out into the universe that he’ll be able to hear again.”
*names have been changed due to privacy reasons.
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