Full of Charms – Cochlear Implant – Mug

This portrait captures the vibrant spirit of Amy, a woman whose journey with hearing loss, alopecia, and self-expression is nothing short of inspiring.

The moment I saw a picture of Amy with a sunflower charm adorning her cochlear implant, I felt an immediate connection. Sunflowers, my mother’s favorite flower before she passed, have appeared in many of my paintings as a symbol of resilience and light. It felt only natural to honor Amy’s story with this powerful bloom.

Born deaf in one ear and hard of hearing in the other due to her mother contracting Rubella during pregnancy, Amy didn’t receive her first hearing aid until she was 30. Frustrated by people unknowingly whispering into her deaf ear, she tattooed “Out of Order” behind it—a bold statement that often sparks conversation, especially as she embraces her baldness due to alopecia universalis.

When Amy decided to get a cochlear implant in 2019, she found new ways to decorate her identity, creating intricate charms to adorn her device. What started as a personal expression quickly became a movement of generosity—she has now gifted hundreds of cochlear charms to others, offering joy and empowerment to children and adults alike.

Amy’s story is one of transformation, advocacy, and the beauty of embracing one’s uniqueness. This artwork is a tribute to her resilience, creativity, and the way she turns hearing loss into a canvas for self-expression.