A hearing bond
Download a copy of Burn's Story Brochure
In 2001, 75 year old Burn Reeve had his first Cochlear Implant switched on. It was a momentous event because he was watched and supported by many of his family. Especially poignant was the connection he has with his great grand-daughter Alicia who also has a Cochlear Implant. It was the first time the Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre had witnessed two generations of the same family receiving an implant.
Burn is a retired Uniting Church pastor from the Central Coast in NSW. He had suffered from deteriorating hearing for several years and although he is an excellent lip reader he found he was becoming more and more withdrawn. His wife noticed his frustration at not being able to participate in community activities - events which had been so much of his life.
Burn's great grand-daughter Alicia had been deafened by meningococcal meningitis at just 18 months of age and received her cochlear implant just after her second birthday and by the time Burn's hearing loss was impacting on the quality of his life Alicia had been using her implant for three years, had adapted well and was starting kindergarten.
There had been tremendous family support for Alicia and her parents, many of whom had helped with the logistics of travel to Sydney for assessment and habilitation. Burn had been witness to this process so he knew he would have family support so it was easy for Burn to consider a Cochlear Implant to overcome his own hearing loss and his increasing isolation.
The operation was successful and Burn had to wait a few weeks before his new hearing was tried. When Burn's family received the news that their patriarch was to be switched on they were all eager to come together for his momentous day.
They arrived from various parts of NSW to witness his hearing moment and offer support. Burn's wife, two daughters, two grand daughters, one grand son-in-law and great grand-daughter Alicia crowded into the audiologist's rooms. In addition Channel 7 Today Tonight attended with Dr John Darcy as medical adviser.
During filming when Burn was asked what he was looking forward to most his answer was "…oh! Music, music and more music".
Burn's new hearing was such a success that in 2007 he chose to have a bi-lateral implant, giving him better hearing than he had experienced for many, many years.
"No longer am I isolated from the community events I love to be part of," Burn said. "My hearing now is better than it has been for years."