Veteran receives gift of hearing
The veteran was fitted in the Farragut office Tuesday, Feb. 13.
“It’s just a miracle,” Broadus said. “Unless you’re hard of hearing, you don’t understand the difference.
“I can hear,” he added. “And, I don’t say ‘huh?’ all the time. I still say it because it’s more of a habit than anything else.”
About his quality of life now, Broadus replied, “I think it’s really going to be remarkable. I can hear when I’m driving. My wife and I just sit around talking.”
“Joe was awarded the hearing aids through the Beltone Hearing Care Foundation,” said Michael Murphy, hearing specialist in Beltone’s office, 12744 Kingston Pike in Renaissance | Farragut.
“Joe has the current, top-of-the-line hearing aids, Serene 17. It’s the most state-of-the-art in the country,” the specialist added
Murphy also said the hearing aids are linked to Broadus’ cell phone so he can use the phone through his hearing aids.
The foundation is a 50(c)3 charitable organization that donates hearing instruments to qualifying individuals in need of hearing help but cannot afford the cost of hearing aids, according to its website.
“Mr. Broadus was originally from Oklahoma where he was in the Naval Reserves and served active duty,” Murphy said.
After retiring, he and his wife, Beth, moved to East Tennessee about six or seven years ago. “(Broadus) moved to Tennessee to be closer to his grandchildren,” Murphy said. “Joe lives off only Social Security and is caretaker to his wife, who has been diagnosed with kidney disease and dementia.”
When the veteran went to the Veterans Administration for help with hearing aids, he was denied because they couldn’t find his original records.
“They said they’re not going back that far,” Broadus recalled. As such, he could not get veterans’ benefits. While he already bought one hearing aid, Broadus couldn’t afford another.
When Murphy saw his situation, he prepared an application to the foundation for Broadus and it was approved.
