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Jo Milne: Deafness cure woman helps Bangladesh children Jo Milne: 'Cured' woman helps Bangladesh children
(about 11 hours later)
Two years ago Jo Milne became an internet sensation when footage of her hearing for the first time appeared on YouTube. Since then she has rekindled a long-lost friendship, enlisted the support of 1970s pop group The Osmonds and travelled to Bangladesh to help hundreds of deaf children.Two years ago Jo Milne became an internet sensation when footage of her hearing for the first time appeared on YouTube. Since then she has rekindled a long-lost friendship, enlisted the support of 1970s pop group The Osmonds and travelled to Bangladesh to help hundreds of deaf children.
More than 10m people shared the moment when Jo Milne, who was born deaf, heard for the first time at the age of 39. She had been fitted with cochlear implants and the footage of her tears of joy on hearing a nurse read to her went viral.More than 10m people shared the moment when Jo Milne, who was born deaf, heard for the first time at the age of 39. She had been fitted with cochlear implants and the footage of her tears of joy on hearing a nurse read to her went viral.
Amid the flood of well-wishers was a long-lost friend - Amina Khan.Amid the flood of well-wishers was a long-lost friend - Amina Khan.
Jo had known her since she was 11 but, when Amina married at 16 and moved away to Bangladesh, the pair lost touch.Jo had known her since she was 11 but, when Amina married at 16 and moved away to Bangladesh, the pair lost touch.
They had formed a close bond because they were both "different", Amina said. Her family was the only Asian one on their Gateshead estate and Jo was deaf.They had formed a close bond because they were both "different", Amina said. Her family was the only Asian one on their Gateshead estate and Jo was deaf.
"It was a special bond because we were different and there was a little bit of bullying going on," she said. "It was always a warm and friendly place, but there were some spiteful kids."It was a special bond because we were different and there was a little bit of bullying going on," she said. "It was always a warm and friendly place, but there were some spiteful kids.
"But we were so close we didn't even realise. We were in our own little world.""But we were so close we didn't even realise. We were in our own little world."
They had plans for their future, too.They had plans for their future, too.
"As we were growing up we always used to say to each other that one day we would try to help the poor children of Bangladesh," said Amina."As we were growing up we always used to say to each other that one day we would try to help the poor children of Bangladesh," said Amina.
Support for the pair's plans came from an unlikely source - The Osmonds, six brothers from Utah who formed a band with the intention of making money for their deaf elder brothers.Support for the pair's plans came from an unlikely source - The Osmonds, six brothers from Utah who formed a band with the intention of making money for their deaf elder brothers.
Members of band saw Jo's video and were moved. They got in touch to ask her to be an ambassador for their charity, the Hearing Fund UK, and the wheels were set in motion to turn a vague childhood promise into reality.Members of band saw Jo's video and were moved. They got in touch to ask her to be an ambassador for their charity, the Hearing Fund UK, and the wheels were set in motion to turn a vague childhood promise into reality.
Jo said 5% of children in Bangladesh - 1.2m - are deaf. The plan was to fit 500 of them with hearing aids in the space of two days.Jo said 5% of children in Bangladesh - 1.2m - are deaf. The plan was to fit 500 of them with hearing aids in the space of two days.
Simply boosting sound, aids are a more basic solution than the cochlear implants Jo had fitted - electronic devices that replace the function of the damaged inner ear, sending sound signals to the brain.Simply boosting sound, aids are a more basic solution than the cochlear implants Jo had fitted - electronic devices that replace the function of the damaged inner ear, sending sound signals to the brain.
Jo and Amina travelled to Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, to film the life-changing clinics.Jo and Amina travelled to Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, to film the life-changing clinics.
The "hustle and bustle" of one of the most congested cities in the world was a shock to Jo's newly revived sense of hearing.The "hustle and bustle" of one of the most congested cities in the world was a shock to Jo's newly revived sense of hearing.
"I was looking this way and that - I've never known so much traffic, so many people," she said."I was looking this way and that - I've never known so much traffic, so many people," she said.
As the day of the first clinic dawned, the queue outside grew longer and longer.As the day of the first clinic dawned, the queue outside grew longer and longer.
Despite being highly planned with lots of volunteers, the sheer number of people needing help meant families waiting for hours in the intense Dhaka heat.Despite being highly planned with lots of volunteers, the sheer number of people needing help meant families waiting for hours in the intense Dhaka heat.
For hearing aids to be fitted, the ears need to be perfectly clean so many of the youngsters had to have theirs cleaned before moulds were made. Once the aid was fitted the volume was gradually turned up to reach the right level.For hearing aids to be fitted, the ears need to be perfectly clean so many of the youngsters had to have theirs cleaned before moulds were made. Once the aid was fitted the volume was gradually turned up to reach the right level.
"Watching their eyes light up, they are all reacting differently to hearing sound," Jo said."Watching their eyes light up, they are all reacting differently to hearing sound," Jo said.
"Some having a quiet reaction others crying. Watching them turning from left to right reacting to sound is amazing.""Some having a quiet reaction others crying. Watching them turning from left to right reacting to sound is amazing."
The hearing aids worked for most, but not all, of the children.The hearing aids worked for most, but not all, of the children.
Rokaya Begum, whose two sons and daughter had them fitted, said: "My children can hear me and have conversations - it doesn't get much better."Rokaya Begum, whose two sons and daughter had them fitted, said: "My children can hear me and have conversations - it doesn't get much better."
Sixteen-year-old Morium said she could hear the pigeons. "They sound good," she said.Sixteen-year-old Morium said she could hear the pigeons. "They sound good," she said.
Her mother said it would mean she could get an education and job and be able to look after her parents.Her mother said it would mean she could get an education and job and be able to look after her parents.
To eventually see their dream of helping children in her home country come true had been "a very emotional journey" for them both, Amina said.To eventually see their dream of helping children in her home country come true had been "a very emotional journey" for them both, Amina said.
"I couldn't have done it alone," Jo said. "There were so many children involved.""I couldn't have done it alone," Jo said. "There were so many children involved."
The hearing aids "had broken down all those isolating barriers," she said.The hearing aids "had broken down all those isolating barriers," she said.
For Jo, the chance to see the children's reactions is priceless. Despite regaining her hearing, her disorder - Usher syndrome - means she is now losing her sight.For Jo, the chance to see the children's reactions is priceless. Despite regaining her hearing, her disorder - Usher syndrome - means she is now losing her sight.
She uses a white stick and compares her diminishing vision to looking at the world "through a letterbox".She uses a white stick and compares her diminishing vision to looking at the world "through a letterbox".
"It was a thought provoking visit - being deaf is a very isolating condition anyway," she added. "The stigma surrounding deafness is a world-wide issue."It was a thought provoking visit - being deaf is a very isolating condition anyway," she added. "The stigma surrounding deafness is a world-wide issue.
"But there are thousands and thousands of children like Morium."But there are thousands and thousands of children like Morium.
"At the end of the day it is a hearing world and hearing aids have enabled me to be a part of it."At the end of the day it is a hearing world and hearing aids have enabled me to be a part of it.
"This has been a humbling experience, but it's not over - there are so many more children that I want to reach.""This has been a humbling experience, but it's not over - there are so many more children that I want to reach."
The Gift of Hearing will be shown at 19:30 GMT on 29 July on BBC One in the North East and Cumbria, and at 23:05 BST on 4 August on BBC Two nationwide.The Gift of Hearing will be shown at 19:30 GMT on 29 July on BBC One in the North East and Cumbria, and at 23:05 BST on 4 August on BBC Two nationwide.