Hi all it's Stu,

As most of you will know now, Rose was born with moderate to severe hearing loss. Through out the last 18 months, my wife Laura has been taking rose to hospitals and universitys for multiple tests, scans and xrays. Rose was diagnosed with mondini dysplasia (individual has 1 and a half coils of a cochlea instead of the normal 2 coils) not only that, further findings resulted in a second diagnoses of EVA (Enlarged vestibular aqueducts).

During this time test results were showing a gradual decline in a Rose's hearing, we had been advised their was a high probability she would lose her hearing completely in the near or distant future. This left us with probably the most stressful and toughest decision to make in whether to carry on with the decline or give Rose the chance of as normal a life as possible with bilateral cochlear implants. "Were we making the right decision", "what if it was unsuccessful", "Rose can hear us ok now with her hearing aids, shall we wait?".

We made the decision on surgery and fingers crossed we made the correct choice, switch on is booked for 26th may! 

This brings me on to The Elizabeth foundation a charity that has helped both myself and laura through the whole process and will continue to do so through school years:

The Elizabeth Foundation (TEF) helps deaf babies and pre school children learn to listen and speak. We are there to support and inform families from the moment their child is diagnosed with any degree of hearing loss. This year over 80 babies, toddlers and pre-school children will attend specialist education programmes and get individual speech and language therapy. 

I would like to raise as much money as possible for them by running the brighton marathon 26.1 miles in September, please help by donating what you can. 

Many many thanks 

Stu x