It was time for the traditional greeting at the end of a hearing, this time, with a somewhat peculiar background sound….
Queen's "We are the Champions" was played in St. Peter's Square and was accompanied by a very special orchestra. This is the orchestra, in which all members are deaf children. Yes, you heard that right. They are deaf, but with cochlear implants, a surgery that has allowed them not only to hear but also to form a musical group.
ADAM HANUS ROCA
Musician, Graeme Clark Orchestra
It has been a very special experience and quite unique above all, and I am very excited about it.
The highlight of this visit to Rome was this meeting with Pope Francis.
From Rome, these kids wanted to show the world that medicine has made it possible to break down barriers that until now were considered impossible to overcome. The help of doctors, family members and solidarity organizations has made it possible to get this far.
JADE CAMPOS MARQUÉS
Musician, Graeme Clark Orchestra
We want to show people that a deaf person with a cochlear implant can do whatever he wants in his life if he doesn't put up those barriers that people put in front of the public.
MARÍA JOSÉ GASSÓ
President, GAES Solidaria Foundation
The project was known through the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de la Doctora Clavería, such a beautiful project, and the GAES Solidarity Foundation, which is always in exciting projects. We got to see a group of children who all separately played an instrument, and a project that we could join not only in the financial part but as part of the project as well.
If the deafness of one child can generate tensions in the family, imagine what it is like to have three children with deafness. This was the case for Monica, who explains that it is important not to give up.
MÓNICA LAURRY
President of the association T-oigo
The diagnosis was the beginning of the solution. My husband's and my attitude was: we want them to be fully integrated into the world, therefore we have to get the best technology so that they can hear. The cochlear implant has been a revolution, and we have to educate them without overprotecting them.
Now this group of teenagers is back home after showing the world what they are capable of thanks to the help of so many who did not give up.
TR: JD
