South Carolina Doctors Give Young Ukraine War Refugee The Gift Of Sound

Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived a family from Ukraine who embarked on an extraordinary adventure in search of a miracle. Their hearts brimming with hope and desperation, they sought answers for their precious 2-year-old daughter, Zlata, who they feared was deaf. Little did they know that their journey would lead them to the land of opportunity and a heartwarming surprise. Diana Kuzmina and her husband, Oleh Kuzmin, had dreamt of coming to the United States ever since their children, Zlata and her mischievous 6-year-old brother Filip, entered their lives. However, their visa applications were repeatedly denied, leaving them disheartened. But fate has a funny way of playing tricks on us. Driven by the despair of Ukraine's ongoing war with Russia, the family found themselves on American soil last year. They were granted refugee status as the dark cloud of Russia's invasion loomed over their homeland. Leaving everything behind, except for the weight of their dreams, they embarked on a two-month journey, hopping from Moldova to the Czech Republic, from Poland to Germany. Their courage knew no bounds. Their destination was not only a land promising a better life but also one that offered hope for their daughter's medical needs. Communicating with Zlata had become a constant concern for the couple. Their path led them to Boiling Springs, South Carolina, where Oleh Kuzmin landed a job at a nearby BMW plant. They were greeted by a warm and welcoming community ready to extend a helping hand. Enter the "very nice" doctor, Dr. Teddy McRackan, a surgeon and cochlear implant specialist. Little did he know that his great-grandparents had once fled persecution in Odessa, the same city from which this courageous family escaped. Fate had intertwined their stories in a beautiful and unexpected way. Dr. McRackan, driven by his role as a parent, understood the plight of Zlata's parents. He knew the desperate desire to provide the best for one's child. In the United States, screening for hearing loss is a routine procedure for newborns, but sadly, that wasn't the case in Ukraine. It wasn't until Zlata was 6 or 7 months old that her mother realized something was amiss with her hearing. Under the skilled hands of Dr. McRackan and his dedicated team at the Medical University of South Carolina, a glimmer of hope emerged. They discovered that Zlata was deaf in her left ear but responded to loud noises in her right ear. A plan was set in motion to give her the gift of sound. With surgical precision, Dr. McRackan and his team placed a cochlear implant in Zlata's ear. In a delicate and life-altering procedure, they inserted an internal processor and receiver beneath the skin and muscle behind her right ear. They carefully created a path for an electrode to stimulate her auditory nerve. It was a nerve-racking wait for the family as they allowed the incision to heal before the device could be activated. Then, in the month of April, the moment arrived. With bated breath and hopeful hearts, Zlata's parents witnessed a miracle unfold before their eyes. Their little girl could hear! Though the implant didn't cure Zlata's deafness, it granted her the ability to experience the wonders of sound. Her mother's heart overflowed with joy, envisioning a future where Zlata could understand her family's words and join them in joyful songs. And so, the story continues with Zlata, the little girl who journeyed from silence to a world filled with