MCALLEN – A woman lost her hearing in one ear when she was a young child and then completely as a young adult. A group of people came together to help her change her story.

Her name is Rosalba Aguilar. She can read lips and has no problem speaking. She’s a student, and helps teach, at the Regional Bible Institute Christian Academy in Edinburg.

“She is very smart. She has been helping us with the students in math and science. All these courses, physics, chemistry, biology, algebra, geometry,” Gladys Roldan, the director of the academy, said.

Because of an infection, Aguilar lost her hearing in one ear when she was 8 years old.

“And it’s an absolute miracle that all this has come together. She went deaf in one night and this was about three years ago, I think,” Pastor Dr. Ron Smith said.

That’s when Aguilar completely lost all of her hearing.

Aguilar was scheduled to activate her cochlear ear implant. It’s a device implanted close to the ear and it is supposed to help her hear.

The implant was a community effort. Cochlear America donated the device and Dr. Frank Glatz volunteered his surgical skills. Doctors Hospital at Renaissance offered their operating facility and other doctors were involved and the bible institute.

“It takes a while for you to get used to the sound. The sound is different than you normally are used to hearing,” Dr. Glatz said.

“Like everyone else, I’m really proud of this. And there were so many people involved,” Dr. Sathiyaraj George said.

“We wish Rosalba all the best as she pursues her dream of becoming a neurologist and we hope one day she’ll join Team DHR,” Maritza Castaneda with DHR said.

“We used to think of it as experimental but this is main stream medicine now. We do 50 to 70 a year right here in McAllen,” Dr. Glatz said.

Aguilar became overwhelmed with emotions. She said she had to turn around to see where the noise was coming from.

“Can I give you a hug,” Dr. Glatz asked.

You can catch Con Mi Gente segments Tuesdays and Thursdays on CHANNEL 5 NEWS THIS MORNING and CHANNEL 5 NEWS at 5.