Young Georgia girl born deaf receives priceless gift

POWDER SPRINGS, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - A Powder Springs fourth grader received the gift of hearing.

Chloe Parker was born completely deaf in one ear and partially deaf in the other.

"My life was tough," Chloe Parker said. "I never knew what anyone was talking about. I felt sad, lonely and left out."

At 5-years-old, after year's of not being able to hear, Parker's life changed forever when she got hearing aids. 

"It was amazing," Chloe Parker said. "I could finally hear my family and friends at school. I could hear teachers. It made me so happy."

Now 10-years-old, Parker's family learned this year that Chloe would need new aids.

"It's very expensive and as a single mom with all the other expenses I have, it made my stress level out of the roof trying to figure out how I would manage it all," Kali Parker, Chloe's mom said.

Chloe's mom said Chloe's audiologist mentioned applying for medical grants to help with the cost. 

"I was kind of hesitant because I never qualify for anything," Kali Parker said.

But the Parkers decided to give it a shot with UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation.

And it's a good thing they did because Chloe received the grant which paid for her new set of hearing aids. 

"I feel like I finally belong somewhere and I'm very thankful for all of this," Parker said.

Since 2007, UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation (UHCCF) has awarded over 18,000 grants totaling more than $45 million to children and families across the U.S.

On Tuesday, March 12, UHCCF is inviting Atlanta residents to Topgolf in Midtown to raise money for medical grants for kids in the Southeast Region.

For more information, visit https://www.planmygolfevent.com/32206-2019UHCCFTopgolfAtlantaMidtownGA/