Calum waits for bionic ear switch-on

A father of a three-year-old deaf boy yesterday spoke of his family’s disappointment as the activation of his son’s bionic ear has been postponed.

The pioneering operation for Calum Geary has been postponed until May 2. It is believed the full medical team involved, at Manchester University Hospital, cannot be assembled in two weeks’ time, as had been planned.

Calum’s father, Andrew Geary, said that the family nevertheless remained hopeful it will be all systems go when the switch-on occurs.

The child, who was born deaf, had missing nerve implants inserted in his brain. These have been attached to a box in his ear which will pick up sounds.

“When he does go back to Manchester, the switch-on will first be performed under general anaesthetic and then again when he’s conscious. Fingers crossed it will go well,” Mr Geary said.

For the first time yesterday, a speech and language therapist arrived at the Geary home in Ballyhooly, Co Cork, to help Calum adjust to what will hopefully soon be a life of sound.

“We will have to continue to go back to Manchester on and off over the next two years for treatment. In the meantime, the trust fund set up for Calum has raised enough money for us to take him to a specialist verbal therapy clinic in California,” Mr Geary said.

Calum will spend the whole of July being treated at the internationally-renowned John Treacy Clinic in Los Angeles. The trip will cost €20,000.

Meanwhile, Mr Geary is preparing to climb Croagh Patrick on Apr 13 as part of a fundraiser for his son organised by Eileen Kelly and other students at the speech and language department at NUI Galway.

Donations to the Calum Geary Trust can be made to Ulster Bank, Fermoy, account no 60171051, sort code 985725.