Woman undergoes 'life-changing' surgery again


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TEXAS -- A mother will undergo a second life-changing surgery Friday, giving her the ability to hear.

Sarah Churman was born without hairs in her inner-ear that transmit sound waves. Since the age of 2, all Churman could hear was muffled noises. However, in July, she underwent surgery and had a hearing device implanted.

Several months later, Churman could hear out of her left ear. Her husband recorded the first moment Churman could hear her voice, with the video becoming a YouTube sensation.

On Friday, Churman will undergo that same surgery on her right ear. Until now, she has had the implant on the one side and a hearing aid in the other. But that arrangement made it difficult for her to take in both sets of sounds. With Friday's surgery, Churman will be able to hear the same sounds out of both ears.

"It's a learning process, getting acclimated to hearing stuff," Churman described.

She said hearing live music has been one of her favorite experiences since having the surgery. Churman said she also loves hearing her children interact.

Churman's surgery in July took nine hours to perform, with the recovery process taking six months before the device was activated and working.

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Ray Villeda, NBC News

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