“Hear My Plea: Help Me Reclaim My Hearing and Stability”

Hi, my name is Phebe, and I am reaching out because I am truly struggling and need help. I was born severely deaf and have relied on hearing aids since I was five years old. Without them, the world feels distant, overwhelming—impossible to fully engage with. For almost a month now, I’ve been without my hearing aids due to financial hardship, and it’s breaking me. I have learned to lip-read and rely on visual cues, but without my aids, everything takes immense mental energy. Conversations feel like puzzles I can barely piece together. I am exhausted, burnt out, and shutting down. The longer I go without hearing aids, the more I risk permanent deterioration of my cochlear nerve, making it harder to process sound even if I get help later. When my brain isn’t stimulated by sound, it begins to lose the ability to interpret it, which can lead to long-term cognitive decline, memory issues, and even increased risks of dementia. This isn’t just about hearing—it’s about my overall health. Living without my hearing aids is causing severe exhaustion, chronic migraines, heightened anxiety, and deep mental fatigue. The strain of trying to function in a world that isn’t accessible to me is breaking down my body. My nervous system is in a constant state of stress, making it harder to focus, sleep, or even regulate my emotions. On top of this, the isolation is worsening my mental health—I feel like I am fading, losing my ability to connect, and it’s terrifying. On top of this, I am a transgender woman in the UK trying to survive on multiple part-time jobs, but I can barely afford rent, food, or essential healthcare. I am doing everything I can, but I am at a breaking point. I need help before my health deteriorates even further. I am fundraising for: • A new left hearing aid • Repairs for my right hearing aid • Hearing and speech tests • Ear cleaning • Batteries and filters • Hormones • Rent, food, transport, and debts I am fighting so hard to push through this, but I can’t do it alone. If you can help in any way—by donating or even just sharing this—it would mean the world to me. Anything, no matter how small, would make a life-changing difference. Thank you for reading. I appreciate you more than I can say.