Juno helps Lee to live the life he wants

We have great news! Juno is now an official hearing dog! Hurray!

After suddenly losing his hearing at an early age, Lee faced challenges. Now he’s planning semi-retirement with Juno helping him every day, to live the life he wants and deserves.

A sudden disconnection

At the age of 10, Lee lost his hearing after contracting meningococcal meningitis. As a result, he was moved to a school for deaf children, which he found traumatic.

Lee explains: “I felt completely cut off from the world. I was taken away from my school friends. I didn’t want to learn British Sign Language. I wanted to lip-read and stay connected to the world around me.”

His mother and sister saw how frustrating this was, and fought to return him to a mainstream school. However, at that school, Lee experienced new challenges. “There was no communication support. I relied on friends to alert me to the break time bell. I also had bad experiences with teachers who didn’t know I was deaf, and would embarrass me in front of the class. I had some support eventually, but only after people noticed I was withdrawn and isolated.”

Lee persevered, passed his A levels and studied fine art and photography at college. He eventually worked in government, where he found more challenges waiting. “It became a continual fight to have sufficient communication support and adaptations fitted in the offices. Over the years I completely withdrew through lack of support.

“The final straw was when I moved to an office without any visual aids for fire or bomb alerts. I knew that, if I was alone, I would not hear them. It was then that I applied for a hearing dog.”

Juno the fluff ball!

Feeling isolated, frustrated, angry… these are all emotions deaf people can experience. They just want to get on with their lives. Lee had reached a very low point in his life – and then Juno came into it.

Lee laughs: “She’s a little fluff ball of pure energy! She’s already helping me gain the confidence to go out for walks more. Just getting out of the house again by myself is such a difference.

“People now see Juno in her burgundy Hearing Dogs coat, which shows that I am a deaf person. So, my deafness is no longer a ‘hidden disability’, and this definitely breaks down a huge barrier.

“Having Juno means I can get on with my life. At home, the doorbell used to be a huge issue. If I was expecting a delivery I would have to sit where I could see the door. The fire alarm was also very important. I just did not feel safe. Now I don’t have to worry about missing those small but important things like deliveries, or visitors, or the really big, really important sounds like fire alarms.”

A new life

Lee is semi-retired now, and is planning art-based self-employment from home.

“It’s so great to have Juno around, to entertain me with her antics, plus her alerting me to the doorbell means I’m no longer tied to one room. I can now move freely between the office, studio and workshop areas.”

This is a wonderful outcome. Lee has experienced difficulties throughout his life, and Juno has come along at such an important time for him. This is because of your support. Thank you. Juno’s training journey ends here – but you can see more of her online, because now she’s a rising Instagram star! Just take a look at instagram.com/junothehearingdog and you’ll be able to follow her life with Lee.

Deafness is rising, and so is demand for hearing dogs. It would be wonderful if you could consider sponsoring another puppy. However you decide, we’ll leave the final words to Lee: “You have made such an immense difference to a deaf person’s life and for that I am eternally thankful.”