This Christmas my gift has come early. After years of waiting I have just received Biba – my new hearing dog - and my life has changed immeasurably. But last Christmas, and for years before it, life was very different.

Last Christmas it was frustrating and depressing to attend events or parties as I felt on the edge and couldn’t follow what was happening. I repeatedly missed the door bell - parcels were returned to the depot miles away and callers were left waiting on the door step. Going out was very challenging - not being able to hear what busy shop assistants were saying. 

Now, with Biba at my side both at work and at home, I will be able to experience this Christmas - and everyday life for years to come - to the full.  Biba, in her burgundy Hearing Dog jacket, reminds people subtly that they need to communicate more patiently and directly - as well as alerting me to important sounds like the telephone, text message, smoke alarm and doorbell. That’s why I’m making this appeal – to ask if, this Christmas, you will help give the gift of a hearing dog to more deaf people.

My life first turned around several years ago when I found out about Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.  I discovered that it trains dogs to alert deaf people like me to vital household sounds and, more importantly, to make deafness visible.  I had to wait several years for my first hearing dog, Glen, and when I lost him unexpectedly it had a devastating impact. The contrast between my life with Glen and without him was stark.  I have had to wait a long time for Biba but now she too has transformed my life.

Not every deaf person on the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People waiting list will have such a precious gift this Christmas. As the Charity is unique in the UK it has a long list of people who are eligible to have a dog but have to wait - just as I did.  That’s hard, very hard believe me – to know life could be so different and to have to wait so long.   Every deaf person has their own experience of deafness – not all the same as mine – but for every one a hearing dog would literally transform their lives.

It would be wonderful if you could give to this Christmas appeal.  Every new hearing dog trained means another deaf person can receive the most precious and priceless Christmas gift ever.  Thank you for helping and very best wishes for a happy Christmas.

Jani Hooley, Hearing Dog Recipient