How Hazel was able to give back to a child with hearing loss in the Microtia and Atresia community

Hazel Shelton donated her hearing device to Marvin so he could hear better in November 2018.

Meet Hazel Shelton, a sweet little 4.5 year old girl who was born with Microtia and Atresia.  Recently, Hazel upgraded to a new hearing device just before moving with her family from the United States to live in the UK.  When it came time for Hazel to upgrade her hearing device, she and her family wanted to make sure that her gently used hearing device went to someone in need.  Hazel and her mom, Jillian Shelton, know how important it is to hear your best and when Hazel’s family began looking into organizations to donate her hearing device to, they wanted to donate to an organization that not only helps children who were born with Microtia and Atresia, but one that would allow Hazel to help another child in need.  Luckily, Hazel’s family knew about the Ear Community Organization and decided to donate her gently used Baha 5 to Ear Community to help another child hear better.

The Ear Community Organization enjoys partnering with local hearing loss organizations and audiologists to help children and adults who have hearing loss whenever possible.  The Marion Downs Center in Denver, Colorado is one of the local hearing loss treatment centers that Ear Community enjoys partnering with.  This past September, Ear Community donated a few hearing devices to the Marion Downs Center, along with the hearing device from Hazel’s family.  This November, the Ear Community Organization was contacted by Dr. Sandra Gabbard, of the Marion Downs Center, who reached out to Ear Community about a patient who was born with bilateral Microtia and Atresia who had never been aided before and who was struggling to hear.  This little boy is Marvin, who is nine years old and since birth, has never been able to hear his best.  Marvin was also in need as his family is from Honduras and are in the process of moving to the United States.  Without insurance coverage or money to help cover services for a hearing device, Hazel’s gently used Baha 5 was gifted to Marvin.  A special thank you to Dr. Gabbard for helping program and fit Marvin’s donated Baha 5 so he could hear better.  Dr. Gabbard stated that “Marvin is now able to hear normal loudness speech for the first time with his BAHA!  Being born with bilateral Microtia and Atresia has prevented him from hearing his best for the past 8 years of his life. What a gift!”  Thank you also to Cochlear Americas for donating a black soft band head band for Marvin to wear his donated Baha 5 on.

Marvin being fitted with his donated Baha 5 from Hazel so he could hear better

Thank you to Hazel for donating her hearing device to Marvin and for helping give him the opportunity to hear better than he has ever heard before.   We know that Hazel and her family are thankful to have been able to help give back to another child in need who was born with Microtia and Atresia just like Hazel.  During this time of year, when many people help give back and give thanks, giving and donating is what makes it so special and being able to help make a difference in someone’s life.  Thank you so very much to Hazel and Jillian Shelton and Family for choosing to help Marvin hear better with Hazel’s hearing device!  Happy Thanksgiving and the Ear Community Organization, along with Marvin and his family, are thankful for you!

We are so happy for Marvin to have received the gift of hearing thanks to Hazel and for Hazel wanting to donate her hearing device to another child in need!  Thank you for making Marvin’s Thanksgiving this year extra special with sound, Hazel!
Thank you!
Ear Community
www.EarCommunity.org