In April 2024, I will be running the London Landmarks Half Marathon, to raise money for The National Deaf Children’s Society. This will be my first ever half marathon, only having ran 10k as my furthest distance before. I am aiming to run the 13.1 miles in less than 2.5 hours and have set myself this challenge to push my limits, whilst raising awareness about hearing loss and the great work The National Deaf Children’s Society do for families like mine.

My story 

In 2019, my beautiful daughter was born. Emilia was an unsettled baby and could inconsolably cry for hours at any one time. I found becoming a mum for the first time hard! What made it even harder, was finding out Emilia also had quite significant hearing loss. When she was 3 days old, Emilia failed her new born hearing test and it was confirmed that she had profound unilateral hearing loss (UHL) when she was just 3 weeks. In short, she has absolutely no hearing in her right ear and this is lifelong with no ‘cure’. Having no hearing loss in either family, this came as a total shock. Despite genetic & various other tests, including putting Emilia through an MRI - the cause is still unclear. There is a strong chance it was caused due to not breathing and having a lack of oxygen when she was first born, but it is likely we may never find out for sure.

I have had so many questions and reached out to lots of people in the UK and across the World - Audiologists, Paediatricians, other parents, adults with UHL, support groups. Research about the causes and impact UHL has is surprisingly limited. Where studies have been undertaken, they consistently conclude that children with hearing loss are less likely to meet milestones than their peers with full hearing and are likely to hit many hurdles in various situations throughout their life. Current research does vary when it comes to advising on how to best aid your child. Most countries now offer children a cochlear implant, accepting that this gives children the next best to bilateral hearing, however this isn’t currently available on the NHS. There aren’t many options for getting it done privately in the UK either. Where it is available it will cost in excess of £60,000 for initial costs. As a result, Emilia remains unaided and her hearing loss is a hidden disability. 

Despite having hearing loss, Emilia is super happy and thrives. She started school this year, which has already come with new challenges, but with her outgoing and confident personality, I am sure she will own her disadvantage and use it as her super power! Previously, I would focus my energy towards thinking of the minor things Emilia won’t be able to do because of her hearing loss. I now focus on what she can and will achieve. This shift has come since being on my personal mindfulness journey in the last year. Only last year, I said I would never be able to run a half marathon - now I push my boundaries and say ‘what’s next?’

The National Deaf Children’s Society, provides a support network, information and research to help families like mine. For some, especially in the initial stages of finding out about your child’s loss, it can be a lonely place, so this is a lifeline.

I am excited to be on this journey and feel empowered by sharing my vulnerable side today. If you have managed to read this far,, thank you! Remember, behind every smile is someone’s story. I would really appreciate it if you could donate to support the charity and to help motivate me through my training.