A cochlear implant is an answered prayer for one St. Petersburg family. A deaf 5-year-old was able to hear Tuesday for the first time.
Bursting with energy, 5-year-old David Orekhov is the dancer in his family. He moves to the beat, even though he can’t hear the music.
"He loves the drums," said his mother, Lisa Orekhov.
Lisa and David’s father, Andrey, said David was just a baby when a hearing test changed all of their lives.
"They said that he's profound deaf on both sides," said Lisa.
Hearing aids have never worked. David also has autism, making sign language tough.
"It's challenging, because you want the best for your children," said Lisa.
Last month, David had surgery at All Children's Hospital, that will allow him to hear for the first time.
The cochlear implant is what brought the Ukrainian and Russian immigrants from Seattle to Florida. In order to have the surgery, David needed to be in good health, and he had been having allergy problems before they moved to the Sunshine State.
"We've waited five years for this," said Lisa as they got in the car Wednesday to head to the hospital, where they turned on the device.
"I cannot wait to see his face, his reaction, hear my first words, you know," said Andrey.
David’s face didn't disappoint. As the device was finally turned on, his mother said his name, and he looked up. The audiologist shook a rattle, and David turned to look.
Everyday sounds to David were a new experience, as his mother walked him to a sink to let him hear the sound of water coming from a faucet. David was also mesmerized by the sound of the humming elevator.
"He heard for the first time. It's amazing," said Lisa, "it's going to change his life completely, I already see it."
The audiologist had been concerned David might try to take off the device, but he left it on.
"It picks up sound and rather than amplifying,” said audiologist Shelly Ash, “it codes the information in to electrical signal."
"That sound will connect him more to his environment, more to the people around him," she said.
Of course, perhaps the best reaction from David came from using his favorite instrument – drums. His mother hopes the tiny hearing device will give him some big opportunities.
"To live a normal life, and help him communicate. Have a social life and have a better future."
Medicaid is helping cover the cost of David’s cochlear implants. St. Pete Vineyard Church is also helping the family while David's dad looks for work. A church member also helped give the family a ride to the hospital, as they don’t have a car at the moment.
The couple has another young son who also has hearing trouble. He will be assessed at an older age to see if he is also a candidate for an implant.