Elske’s Gift of Hearing
Gamtoos Irrigation Board joins Elske van der Westhuizen in celebrating her unexpected gift of hearing thanks to what CEO Rienette Colesky describes as “a life-changing event”.
An employee of GIB for the past 11 years, Elske works in the admin and finance department.
“The nerves in my ears were damaged because of an antibiotic I had received as a child. As a result, I cannot hear like ‘normal’ people,” Elske explained.
“What has frustrated me is that when people realise I am deaf, they withdraw from me. They do not understand that being hearing impaired does not mean that my brain is also impaired.
“I often have to lip read to aid what I hear but sometimes, for example, when men have a moustache, it is very difficult to read their lips. It’s also difficult to follow the conversation in a group situation, and people don’t always want to repeat what is said so that I can feel included.”
Then a miracle happened. Elske’s audiologist wrote to Discovery Health to motivate her receiving the latest cognitive hearing apparatus. This request was approved and Discovery provided the costly device.
“Since I received the implants my whole life has changed,” Elske said.
“There are noises and sounds that I have never heard before, like the shh sound of meat on a braai. The ticking of a clock – I didn’t ever know that it could ‘speak’. And the irritating noise of crickets! The sound of my dog’s breathing. Finally, I can listen to music. I love it!”
Although fine-tuning the apparatus is taking a bit of time, and it is quite an adjustment for Elske to get used to all the sounds, she is thrilled that this gift of hearing has created new opportunities for her.
“Doors have opened for me and I have become so much more self-assured.”
Nadine Oosthuysen has been her colleague since Elske started at GIB in 2011.
“We didn’t even know Discovery had approved the hearing aid!” Nadine said. “She has asked us to be patient with her while she gets used to it. We are so excited for her because she has been dreaming about this for years.”
Another colleague, Nomazizi Thube, is equally thrilled: “At GIB we celebrate like a family and we know that Elske is overwhelmed by the kindness of this gesture from Discovery.
“It is going to make her life at the office so much easier.”
Elske se geskenk: Haar gehoor
Die Gamtoos Besproeiingsraad wil graag vir Elske van der Westhuizen gelukwens met haar onverwagse geskenk van gehoor, danksy wat hoof uitvoerende beampte Rienette Colesky beskryf as niks minder nie as ’n lewensveranderende gebeurtenis.
Elske werk in die administrasie en finansiële afdeling, en het 11 jaar gelede by die raad aangesluit.
“Die senuwees in my ore is beskadig weens die gebruik van ’n sekere antibiotika as kind. Die gevolg was dat ek nie soos ‘normale’ mense kon hoor nie,” verduidelik Elske.
“Die groot frustrasie vir my was dat, sodra mense besef ek is doof, hulle hulself onttrek.Hulle verstaan nie dat gehoorgestremdheid nie beteken jou brein is aangetas nie.
“Ek moet gereeld lippe lees om aan te vul wat ek hoor, maar in party gevalle gaan dit moeilik, byvoorbeeld met mans wat snorre het! Dis ook moeilik om gesprekke te volg in ’n groepsituasie. Mense wil nie altyd herhaar wat gesê is nie en dan kan ’n mens uitgesluit voel.”
Maar toe kom die wonderwerk: Elske se oudioloog het vir Discovery gekontak en gemotiveer dat sy die nuutste kognitiewe gehoorapparaat ontvang. Die versoek is goedgekeur en Discovery het die uiters duur apparaat verskaf.
“Sedert ek die inplantings ontvang het, het my hele lewe verander,” sê Elske.
“Daar is geluide en klanke wat ek nog nooit tevore gehoor het nie, soos byvoorbeeld die ‘shh’ van vleis op die braai! ’n Tikkende klok – ek het nooit geweet ’n klok kan ‘praat’ nie! Dan ook die irriterende geraas van krieke! Die geluid van my hond se asemhaling… En, uiteindelik, die feit dat ek na musiek kan luister. Ek is gaande daaroor!”
Dit is steeds vir Elske ’n aanpassing om aan al die nuwe geluide gewoond te raak en dit sal ook nog ’n bietjie tyd verg om die gehoortoestel presies in te stel. Ten spyte hiervan is sy verheug oor die geskenk van gehoor en die nuwe geleenthede wat dit vir haar skep.
“Deure het vir my oopgegaan en ek is soveel meer selfversekerd.”
Nadine Oosthuysen en Elske is kollegas sedert Elske by die besproeiingsraad begin werk het.
“Ons het nie eers geweet dat Discovery die gehoorapparaat goedgekeur het nie” sê Nadine. “Elske het gevra dat ons geduldig met haar moet wees terwyl sy gewoond raak aan die toestel. Ons is so opgewonde vir haar, want ons weet sy het jarelank hiervan gedroom.”
‘n Ander kollega, Nomazizi Thube, is ewe in haar skik vir Elske. “By die Gamtoos Besproeiingsraad vier ons ons suksesse saam, as een familie, en ons weet Elske is oorweldig deur die medemenslikheid van Discovery se gebaar.
“Dit sal haar lewe soveel verbeter op kantoor.”