THE parents of a young girl whose life has been transformed by a revolutionary hearing device have said thank you to the experts who cared for her.

Savannah Sharp, 12, was fitted with a £50,000 hearing implant after being diagnosed with the hearing condition cholesteatoma.

Savannah has had the hearing device - a Baha Connect cochlear implant - switched on, three years after losing the hearing in her left ear.

Savannah is still getting used to having her hearing back and she still goes to the audiologists at Furness General Hospital for checkups.

Now her implant is working she can start using it in school and around the house.

Although usually a shy girl, Savannah wanted to thank the doctors and nurses that gave her such good care throughout her treatment.

She said: "Thank you to everyone."

Savannah's parents, Vicky and Dan, also wanted to express their thanks to the medical staff at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, and the audiology department at Furness General Hospital.

Vicky said: "Thank you to Michelle and Peter at FGH, they are really good with us, they make things a lot nicer for Savannah.

"Thank you to Dr Ian Bruce, our consultant and surgeon, he was brilliant; everything was always on our level, making sure we had all the choices for Savannah."

The family, of Lord Roberts Street, Walney, have been overwhelmed with the support they have received from the community since they found out about their story.

Mrs Sharp said: "So many people have been so supportive." Mr Sharp said: "Everyone has been really good with us."

It has not been the easiest road to recovery for the family, the constant worry for their daughter and regular trips to hospital have put the family under strain.

Speaking about her operation, Savannah said: "Being uncomfortable was the hardest part, I couldn't brush my hair because it hurt."

Her parents are now relieved that the family can now get back to normality, and enjoy life again. Mrs Sharp said: "I just feel that now we can start getting back to normality."

Savannah is still shy about going outside with her hearing device on, but as the days go by she is becoming more confident, and happy to wear it.

Mrs Sharp said: "She finds it difficult to talk about, she's worried about how people will react to her, but it's getting better day by day."

Read about the touching gesture Savannah's sisters made when they cut off their hair to raise money for her