The Free Press, Mankato, MN - Hearing aids open worlds to Cairo, Egypt

Wed, Nov 25 2009

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Patty and Randy Appel pose with one of the children who was fitted for a hearing aid in Cairo.
Submitted photo /

Patty Appel and another volunteer work to fit hearing aids into one of the young patients at the clinic. The Egyptian Ministry of Health identified people who needed help hearing and brought them to the distribution center in Cairo.
Submitted photo /

Ear infections are common in Egypt, but antibiotics to treat them are hard to get, which is one reason why so many children have trouble hearing.
Submitted photo /

Hearing aids open worlds to Cairo, Egypt

Foundation's hearing aid mission inspires local family

By Sara Gilbert Frederick
Special to The Free Press

The Appels appreciated the opportunity to help other people — and to explore another part of the world. During their trip to Egypt, they were able to explore the Pyramids, see the Sphinx and sail down the Nile.

But when they returned to Minnesota, it was the hours they spent fitting needy people with hearing aids they most wanted to talk about.

“All I wanted to tell people about were the fittings,” Patty Appel said. “We were able to touch people’s lives. We were able to change their lives. It was so gratifying.”

For more information about the Starkey Hearing Foundation's hearing aid missions, visit www.sotheworldmayhear.org.

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