Hearing loss can't keep Murrells Inlet girl from success

Lowcountry Preparatory School elementary student and high-achiever, Annika Villafranca, 9, of Murrells Inlet wants to be a teacher when she grows up, and she has already begun to give those around her lessons on courage, determination, and perseverance.

Participation in a national leadership forum, a nomination for courage from the South Strand Optimist Club, a certificate for outstanding performance at a state literary meet, and regional spelling bee participation, are among some of her achievements.

While these accomplishments by themselves are outstanding, the fact that Villafranca, daughter of Sandy Martin and granddaughter of Bob and Betty Martin, all of Murrells Inlet, has achieved them despite her severe hearing loss makes them that much more extraordinary.

“I’ve always said that she was going to do great things since she was born even though she has this issue,” Sandy Martin said. “God’s given her something that makes her different, but in spite of it all she’s a fighter, and I think she was put on this earth to do amazing things, and she has done amazing things ever since she’s been around.”

Villafranca was born at Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital, and her hearing loss was discovered soon after during a routine test.

“It was a devastating thing when she failed her test at the hospital because I didn’t know what it would mean for her,” Martin said.

Martin described Villafranca’s diagnosis as a snowball effect as she failed one hearing test after another.

Doctors discovered Villafranca was born with only two bones in each ear instead of the necessary three that others have, and she has membranes where bones should be, causing a condition called sensorineural, or bi-lateral hearing loss.

Martin said doctors aren’t sure why Villafranca has this condition.

“It’s one of those things that happened and there’s no reason or rhyme to it,” Martin said.

When Villafranca was a baby, doctors told Martin the condition would greatly affect Villafranca’s balance and speech and said that she may not be able to walk or speak.

Villafranca began wearing hearing aids in both ears when she was just a few months old and began physical, occupational, and speech therapy once a week for three years when she was around one year’s old.

Martin said a bubble gum-like substance was put inside her ears to take a mold of their shape, then hearing aids were fashioned to perfectly fit inside her ears.

Villafranca, who couldn’t jump or run when she was a toddler and struggled with her speech, now speaks easily and does football and basketball cheerleading, and doesn’t remember her rigorous years of therapy.

She still has a little trouble with her balance and mildly struggles sometimes during physical education class at school, but overall she jumps the hurdle of her hearing loss with relative ease and inspirational tenacity.

“You can do anything if you believe in yourself,” Villafranca said.

She is also a straight “A” honor roll, fourth-grade student at Lowcountry Preparatory School, and was nominated to participate at the National Youth Leadership Forum by her third grade teacher, Janet Kelly.

“She’s just an exceptional student. She’s a consistent student who puts effort into all aspects of her education,” Kelly said.

Kelly’s teaching career spans 25 years, and she said Villafranca is one of those students who will always stand out in her memory.

Kelly said over the years she’s seen students who choose to let a medical condition be an excuse not to do their best, but not Villafranca, who excels despite it all.

After Kelly nominated her, she was chosen to participate at the National Youth Leadership Forum in July at William Peace University in Raleigh, NC.

The event was held on college campuses nationwide and organizers invited outstanding elementary students to participate in an academic development experience that allowed them to explore life as a doctor, engineer and crime scene detective through hands-on learning.

Villafranca stayed the night in a college dormitory there with other participants and without her family.

Villafranca said she was a “little nervous” staying away from home, but really enjoyed learning about robotics during the forum’s engineering segment.

Kelly also nominated Villafranca for an award from the South Strand Optimist Club’s recognition of elementary youth program in courage and art categories.

“…My 8-year-old student, Annika Villafranca, is an exceptional courageous young woman. Annika has faced many adversities in her short life – the greatest being her severe hearing loss. Annika has always known a world with hearing aids present in her life. She has to be courageous everyday. … She does so well with grace and happy determination,” Kelly wrote in the nomination letter she submitted earlier this year.

When she was in second grade, Villafranca participated in a South Carolina Independent School Association literary meet at which she had to listen to a story then tell it back to a panel of judges in her own words and with as much detail as possible. She received a certificate for outstanding performance at the event.

Villafranca also took part in the SCISA regional spelling bee last year and described it as somewhat difficult, but still did well and tried her best.

She also said she received a tribute survival certificate in June after participating in a program with Girl Scouts Troop 150 and said she really enjoys her involvement with the group.

Aside from her academic work, Villafranca loves the arts and is involved in an afterschool art program at Lowcourty Preparatory School where she does acrylic and watercolor painting and ceramics.

“I like art because you get to be creative, and I like being creative,” she said.

Villafranca has aspirations to be an art teacher someday.

“If you work hard, you can do anything,” Villafranca said.

In addition to her love of the arts, she’s also an avid reader and big fan of the Harry Potter book series.

Villafranca doesn’t seem to notice that she does so much because to her it’s not work – it’s fun.

“She’s an inspiration. She makes me want to be a better person,” Martin said.

This story was originally published October 15, 2015 at 7:30 AM with the headline "Hearing loss can't keep Murrells Inlet girl from success."