Pontefract woman who went deaf after husband died of cancer has regained her hearing 16 years later

Jacqui Thorpe, 54, developed severe tinnitus and was ‘profoundly deaf’ in both ears following the death of her husband Paul.

Her condition deteriorated rapidly and even hearing aids failed to cure the condition.

As a result, Jacqui lost her sales administrator job and resorted to learning lip reading to communicate.

She tried various implants over the years but nothing worked and eventually made the brutal decision to live with the pain.

But now, after 16 years of agony, the gran-of-six from Pontefracthas been 'given her life back' after being fitted with an NHS cochlear implant.

Jacqui said it has changed her life and that she can now enjoy simple pleasures like "hearing the birds again".

She said: "My hearing loss must have been because of the trauma I've been through and the upset.

“My tinnitus got worse and worse but I tried to carry on and just get by. Throughout the 16 years, I've tried and tried and cried out for help but no one could help.

“Eventually I was given the chance to get the cochlear implant, but I had mixed emotions because it’s an operation. But I knew it could be life-changing.

“It was my only hope so I went for it and I'm so glad I did. It was amazing and a huge success

“I love listening to the birds now, my indicators, my sat-nav. I’m now independent, more confident and much happier, it’s amazing.”

Jacqui said her world was turned ‘upside down’ after her husband was diagnosed with a grade 5 aggressive brain tumour.

She quit her job to care for him but, after a nine-month battle with the disease, Paul died in January 2005 aged 39.