The role of sound cannot be overemphasized enough in our normal daily activities.
Like hearing the cock crow in the morning, listening to droplets of water from your tap, or getting accustomed to noisy cars on your road.
Take these away, and all you have is silence; something Dr Kofi Agyeman, has experienced in the most dreadful form.
“I wasn’t born with a hearing impairment. I was a perfectly normal boy until the age of 11, when while in boarding school, I fell ill with meningitis. So, during that illness that’s when I lost my hearing. I felt like my whole world came crushing down,” he recalled.
The incident sent shock waves down the spines of his family. And all of a sudden life came crushing. But more importantly, it took a toll on Dr. Agyemang himself, who now had to put in extra effort to make a difference.
“It was very challenging because, medical education even without any handicaps or impairments is a very tough and grueling experience. I’ve felt isolated because, I can’t participate in a lot of things because I’m not able to hear”.
But his resilience, is what makes this story worth sharing. After years of hard work and persistence, he is now an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist. What’s more, he is a member of both the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and the West African College of Surgeons, a feat many find it hard to achieve.
Dr. Kofi says his hearing impairment is often times a blessing in disguise.
“It gives them (my patients) hope. They are looking at someone who has the same problem and has been able to make something out of his life, so they feel encouraged, and most people respond to it very positively,” he revealed.
But how does he cope in a profession that requires constant interaction with patients?
Well, Dr Agyeman to some extent can hear using a hearing aid, however it’s not always that easy. He says his nurses have been of great help.
He’s married to Dr Agyeman with two kids. But his wife says the moments leading to their marriage were fraught with concerns.
“A person just asked whether I’m sure my children aren’t going to be born with a hearing impairment. So, I just educated that person that, his condition is not genetic, he got it when he was a young boy so there was no way my children were going to be hearing impaired. And I have two children with perfect hearing.”
She however says marriage has been a sweet balance of mutual respect, patience and love.
They say disability is not inability. And indeed, Dr Kofi Agyemang has beaten the odds far beyond the expectations of many. He hopes his story inspires people to stop at nothing, until they achieve their goals.