Chef Regains Her Hearing After Life-Threatening Head Injury
As a single mom, Isabelle wanted to build her own business so she could have the flexibility to care for her three young sons. So, she became a private chef and for seven years has built her career from the ground up.
But in a single moment, Isabelle’s life was threatened.
“I had a bad fall that resulted in a traumatic brain injury and not being able to walk. I woke up deaf with a fractured skull and brain bleed.”
Months of therapy, treatments and hard work have given Isabelle much of her life back, but the time away from work and recovery ahead have made her worry for hers and her sons’ futures.
“The worst part is that I lost my sense of smell and taste completely. I’m a chef and I built and worked so hard to create my dream job, and losing all this is very hard after you’ve works so much to be where you were.”
When a friend posted about Giving Kitchen on Instagram, Isabelle decided to ask for help.
“It was an easy process, gathering information with the sweetest case manager. I have brain damage on my processing information, so having someone help me through it was just so much easier on me.”
Without Giving Kitchen’s help, Isabelle would have been forced to work during a time when healing was the only priority. She was relieved to receive financial assistance so she could focus on her next surgery – a cochlear implant to restore her hearing.
“I can’t thank the team at Giving Kitchen enough. It melts my heart to think there’s help for us in the food industry.”
Today, Isabelle is adjusting to her new normal, learning how to navigate her dream job with new challenges, but she’s confident Giving Kitchen has given her and her sons new hope.
“The relief this gave me and my family – my sons – I have no words other than ‘thank you’ from all of us. Giving Kitchen gave me a chance and time to heal. They took the stress away for me and my sons.”
Watch as Isabelle’s cochlear implant is enabled and she hears again for the first time since her accident.