We are excited to share the stories behind the artwork from Laura, Erica, Monica and her husband Tom, as they tell us what inspired them to create these pieces.
Erica became a recipient for 24 years and uses a Cochlear™ Nucleus® 7 Sound Processor
Erica’s Nucleus sound processor opened up an entirely new world of hearing – one she hadn’t realized she was missing with her behind‑the‑ear hearing aid. She had to retrain her brain to recognize new sounds and speech patterns, but the effort paid off. Suddenly she could hear letters she’d never heard clearly before, and her communication with family and friends flourished. Music became an even bigger joy in her life, whether she was listening through Bluetooth1 on long road trips, dancing with her kids, or soaking in worship and concerts. Even after 24 years with her cochlear implant, she still experiences “first sounds,” from crunching leaves to buzzing bees, and the sweetest of all, her children’s voices changing as they grow. Her cochlear implant didn’t just improve her hearing; it reshaped her confidence and her lifestyle in profoundly positive ways.
That sense of rediscovery is what inspired the artwork she created. One of Erica’s most vivid memories is a sunny day at the beach with her kids, when the sound of the ocean felt louder and more alive than she remembered from childhood. She heard seashells clacking in her hands, seagulls squawking overhead, and, most importantly, her children laughing as they jumped over the waves. She held onto that moment, knowing she’d want to remember it forever. Back home, she pulled out her art supplies, turned on her music, and painted the scene. Her art reflects how she connects movement and sound, showing that life with a cochlear implant has no boundaries. A self‑taught watercolor artist who has been creating since childhood, she now shares her love of animals, portraits, buildings, and landscapes through her hobby‑turned‑small‑business. Her adventurous spirit has taken her caving, hiking, rappelling, and traveling, but motherhood remains her greatest adventure, one she navigates with confidence thanks to her cochlear implant and the technology that continues to change lives.
Laura has had a Cochlear Baha® 6 Max Sound Processor since 2013
Laura’s Baha sound processor didn’t just change the way she hears, it transformed the way she moves through the world. She describes it as her “personal miracle,” a device that restored her ability to fully participate as a wife, mother, friend, and teacher. With it, she could continue doing the work she loves: teaching art and preschool classes, connecting with children, and staying present in every conversation. Her Baha also opened new layers of everyday life, from listening to music or podcasts through her sound processor to adjusting background noise so she can focus on what matters most in the moment.
That first day with her Baha sound processor became the spark for the artwork she ultimately created. Walking out of the audiologist’s office, she was overwhelmed, in the best way, by the soft sounds she hadn’t heard in years: palm trees rustling, birds singing overhead, even the hum of the car’s air conditioning. The world felt suddenly fuller, richer, alive again. As a self‑taught mixed‑media artist, she knew she had to capture that moment. When she learned Cochlear was inviting artwork inspired by hearing journeys, she immediately felt compelled to tell her story through the medium she loves most.
Monica received her cochlear implant in 2019 and currently uses the Cochlear Nucleus 8 Sound Processor
For Monica, her Nucleus sound processor reshaped her daily life in ways she never expected. Suddenly, the smallest sounds felt extraordinary – the spoon tapping her coffee cup, the rumble of her husband’s car leaving for work, even their stray cat demanding breakfast. Music opened up in a new way too; she could hear lyrics clearly and sing along with confidence, sometimes even badly! She no longer relied on closed captions, and conversations felt natural instead of exhausting. Places that once overwhelmed her like busy restaurants and crowded rooms, became accessible again. With each new sound, she felt more present, more connected, and more grounded in a world she no longer had to chase from a distance. “I can hear” became a sentence filled with pride, relief, and possibility.
Tom’s artwork grew directly from witnessing the moment Monica’s world shifted. After supporting her through a difficult recovery, he was there the day her cochlear implant was activated. When the audiologist said she needed to turn it “off,” Monica lit up. She had heard the word “Off,” the very first sound of her new chapter. They cried, they cheered, and Tom immediately understood the magnitude of what had just happened. When Monica later mentioned Cochlear’s art submission, he created a piece symbolizing how science had given her a new kind of freedom. Today, the artwork sits in Monica’s home office as a daily reminder of courage, partnership, and the moment sound returned to her life. For Tom, a lifelong creator who works across many mediums, this piece was deeply personal- an expression of love, resilience, and the shared journey that changed both of their lives.
To view more recipient artwork from our Inspire Us display, click here.
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