Lucy and Wilbur

Lucy describes the impact of sudden hearing loss on her mental health and how the arrival of hearing dog, Wilbur, helped turn her life around.

A woman lying in bed, she is smiling at a black and white Cocker Spaniel who is leaning over her, their noses are touching

I became deaf suddenly, as the result of a rare auto-immune disease called GPA (Granuloma with Polyangitis). I went from being a healthy happy college student, with a part-time job and an active social life, to barely leaving my home.

A black and white image of a woman sitting at a table looking down at a mug she is holding, she has an anxious and sad expression on her face
A black and white close-up image of a woman lying in bed, looking deep in thought, her eyes are open and she looks worried

At my very worst points, I used to sleep a lot so there were fewer waking hours in the day, counting down the hours until bedtime. I have always been close to my family, who have been so loving and supportive, but as soon as I was alone, the anxiety returned.

Hearing loss affected so much of my day-to-day life. Simple things that we all take for granted, like the sound of a doorbell or an alarm clock, I couldn’t hear. I used to sleep with my phone on vibrate so I could feel my alarm going off in the morning. Yet often that wasn’t enough, and I would oversleep, missing important medical appointments. I found it difficult to relax and was always on edge.

: A black and white image in a cafe setting, the focus is on a woman staring into the distance, looking worried and deep in thought, while conversations are happening around her

I got to the point where I wasn’t really enjoying life and wanted things to change. That’s when my twin sister told me about Hearing Dogs.

From the moment I learned I was on the waiting list for a dog, I felt part of the Hearing Dogs family and have done so ever since. When they contacted me to say that they’d found a match, I was so happy!

I fell in love with Wilbur straightaway. From the day we met our bond grew and grew and we’ve been inseparable ever since.

A joyful image of a woman walking alongside a Cocker Spaniel, with buildings and cafe chairs in the background, the woman is smiling as she looks down at the dog, and the dog looks lovingly back up at her, the dog is wearing a hearing dogs jacket

For years, I had missed out on so much from feeling so isolated. I used to feel self-conscious and vulnerable on my mobility scooter, but with Wilbur by my side, wearing his Hearing Dogs jacket, people are instantly aware of my hearing loss.

Wilbur is helping me to lead a more independent life that isn’t behind closed doors. He’s had such a positive impact on my mental health, and we face every new challenge together.

Before his arrival, I lived life in the shadows, unable to join in. Now, Wilbur brings warmth and connection every single day.