Walsall father has cochlear implant tattoo to support daughter

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-34078211

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A father has had a tattoo of a cochlear implant to support his eight-year-old daughter who was fitted with one.

Gareth Hickenbottom-Marriot's daughter, Briar, who was born deaf, was fitted with a device at Birmingham Children's Hospital when she was nearly three.

Mr Hickenbottom-Marriot, 40, had the tattoo after his wife said she saw a father from New Zealand on social media who had done something similar.

Birmingham Children's Hospital said it was a "fantastic caring gesture".

Mr Hickenbottom-Marriot, of Walsall, said at first he thought Briar, now aged eight, was "quite shocked" and "didn't seem to know what to make of it".

'Toy replicas'

He said: "My wife told me that when I was asleep she came next to me and at one point looked to try and take the battery off my head.

"[But Briar] often talks about how she wished all of the family had the implants and she has toy replicas that she puts on her dolls and her brother."

The device replicates the sense of hearing by electronically stimulating the cochlea to bypass the non-functioning hair cells of the inner ear, the hospital said.

Mr Hickenbottom-Marriot wanted the tattoo to be a surprise ahead of what was Briar's 17th operation to help with another condition, Goldenhar Syndrome, which has caused issues with her eating, drinking and vision.

The operation went well and Briar is now back home with her family, the hospital said.

Its head of the hearing implant programme, Kate Hanvey, said: "Briar's family got in touch with us a few days ago to let us know about dad's new tattoo.

"It's the first time we've heard about one of our patient's parents taking such a step to show support. We think it's a fantastic caring gesture."