Kampala
December 2014 Uganda
On our first day, we held a mission in the city under the canopy of a tent and some tall trees that also served as the home to fruit bats … thousands of them! Every so often the bats would leave the trees crying out — bats are blind and use radar to find their way. They didn’t bother the patients or the team, however. In fact, they further emphasized the importance of hearing.
The next day we drove about two hours outside of Kampala to a new hearing mission site, where the government was hosting a ceremony in honor of the International Day of People with Disabilities. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni had invited us and wanted the chance to see our work in action. Bill Austin walked him through the fitting process, and it was the perfect day for the team to share Bill’s belief that “there is no such thing as disability — only ability.”
While there were many memorable stories, six-year old Jennifer really made the team smile. She had incredible energy and was filled with joy, but her relentless smile made it difficult to find the right fit for her. However, Bill knew what to do. She left exactly as she arrived — smiling from ear-to-ear — but now, she can hear all the joy she brings to the world.
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