Becoming a competitive swimmer means everything to Mariana, an athlete with hearing loss, who has defied the odds and has achieved results in the pool that once seemed unimaginable.
Born prematurely and weighing less than 1kg, doctors painted a grim picture for Mariana’s future. They suggested she might survive but risked going blind and deaf.
However, Mariana’s perseverance and resilience, and the unwavering support of her family has paved the way for her to beat the odds.
A turning point in Mariana’s life came with updating her device to the Cochlear™ Nucleus® 8 Sound Processor. Having the latest technology has redefined her perception of the world.
“Nucleus 8 changed my entire life – I can hear more clearly.”
Now a World Cup athlete, swimming is not just a sport for Mariana. She says it defines her. It makes her feel “alive” and brings her unparalleled joy.
Mariana acknowledges that she owes her success to dedication, hard work and the unwavering support of her family. But she is also quick to call out the impact her new sound processor and Aqua+ kit has had, helping her both train and compete.
“Nucleus 8 radically changed my entire life, and now I can hear my coach when I am in the pool. It’s a dream come true. Aqua+ is immensely helpful during my daily swimming training,” she says.
Benefits beyond the pool
While much of Mariana’s life is spent in the pool, upgrading her sound processor has also brought a lot of benefit in other aspects of her life – from improved hearing in noisy situations to being able to enjoy music.
“I attended an event in my city featuring a musical show, numerous children, and loud conversations. It was then that I realised the substantial difference in sound quality,” she says.
Are you interested in finding out more about the benefits of upgrading to the Nucleus 8 Sound Processor? Click here.