Patient Story: Hannah McPierzie, Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2)
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Hannah McPierzie is a Perth-based disability consultant and advocate whose life was profoundly impacted by neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), a rare condition diagnosed in her late twenties that caused tumours affecting her hearing and vision. Following multiple brain surgeries to debulk these tumours, Hannah experienced hearing loss that resulted in profound deafness, leaving her unable to communicate in the ways she once had and increasingly disconnected from everyday moments that many take for granted. As a result of her condition and the surgeries, Hannah was not a candidate for a cochlear implant, as there was no functioning hearing nerve to support it. With the support of her specialist care team, she was instead recommended an auditory brainstem implant (ABI). Auditory brainstem implants bypass the inner ear and directly stimulate the brainstem, enabling access to sound for people who would otherwise be unable to hear. They are an important option for individuals who cannot receive cochlear implants, including patients like Hannah. After receiving her ABIs, and with the support of connected technology and her care team, Hannah has been able to reconnect with sound, communication and the world around her, from conversations and daily interactions to moments that were once out of reach. Being able to hear her cousin’s wedding vows is just one example of the value of MedTech and how this technology has restored her ability to be part of life’s most meaningful moments again. |
