The mother of a little boy recovering from major surgery in Italy said that she is looking forward to the day he can say his first words.
Oliver Bosch’s parents led a fundraising campaign to raise the £60,000 needed to pay for pioneering surgery so he can hear their voices for the first time.
As he was born with no auditory nerves at all, 18-month-old Oliver’s only hope for hearing was to undergo a revolutionary new procedure called Auditory Brain Stem Implant.
The operation was carried out on Tuesday by a surgeon in Italy and all of Oliver’s 12 electrodes are now working.
As he starts his recovery Oliver’s mother Jemma Bosch said although it is difficult the family is now looking forward to the future.
She said: “Everything went well and the doctors are really happy with how the operation went.
“I am really relieved the surgery is over but his recovery has just started. He has been pulled and poked and prodded.
“He has had about 90 needles stuck in him as he needs drips and painkillers. I just feel he is so little to be going through all of this.
“He seems OK. The only thing is he has a little inflammation on his lung and a temperature.”
“Yesterday was quite difficult, going back and forth to the intensive care unit. It is hard seeing him with tubes in him but we just have to grit our teeth and get through it.
“I would just like to be able to fast forward through the next four weeks and see him running around happy again.”
Mrs Bosch hopes to be discharged from hospital to their apartment in Italy at the end of next week but they will have to return for daily visits.
Father Ben will return to the UK today to look after Oliver’s five-year-old sister Darcy but they will both fly back to Italy for the moment of truth when Oliver’s implant will be switched on, either on March 25 or 26.
Mrs Bosch said: “When he gets his device switched on hopefully we will be able to see him hearing for the first time.
“They will stand behind him banging a drum to see if he turns round.”
The family will have to travel back to the hospital six times in the coming year for mapping sessions to test his progress and fine tune his hearing device.
Each session will cost £3,000, not including the costs of travel and accommodation.
Mrs Bosch said: “We are quite prepared for it. We are just looking forward to the future. It is really tough now but it will all be so worthwhile when he can say his first words.”
She added the family is grateful to all the supporters who helped pay for the life-changing operation.
The Oliver Bosch Appeal’s Facebook page has 737 likes and Mr and Mrs Bosch have been posting updates. The family still need help to pay for further specialist treatment.
Donations can be made online at justgiving.com/Theoliverboschappeal.