Graduate featured on FOX4 16 years ago after cochlear implant surgery says thank you
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Smith-Cotton graduate in Sedalia, Missouri walks across the stage after a cochlear implant surgery changed her life more than 15 years ago.
It's a story FOX4 first covered back in 2009 that's now come full circle.
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At just 2-years-old, Kierra Barnett heard her first sound. Our FOX4 cameras caught it on video 16 years ago.
Now, Barnett is graduating high school and sent our station a thank you letter for helping her get to that moment. She had a life-changing cochlear implant surgery in 2009. Now, she can hear.
It's something many of us take for granted, but not Barnett. She knows how precious it is to hear someone's voice, especially when they're cheering your name at high school graduation.
'I just feel great and ready to be in a new chapter in life,' Barnett said.
Barnett heard her name called at graduation in Sedalia. It was milestone moment for the whole family, including sister Abrianna Barnett, who caught it on camera.
'Exciting,' Abrianna Barnett said. 'I actually get to see her embrace herself and meet new people who won't judge her for what she has, but basically for what her personality is.
The journey to get this cap and gown wasn't easy. Kierra was born deaf in both ears. Doctors told mom Jennifer Hill, Kierra needed cochlear implants. At that time, in 2009, Kierra was just 2-years-old.
Hill said insurance would not cover the surgery and without insurance, it would've cost $160,000.
'It was overwhelming. We didn't want our daughter not being able to hear,' Hill said. 'That's when we emailed FOX4 Problem Solvers and they took on the story and insurance paid for it. They covered it.'
FOX4 Problem Solvers put the family in touch with the Midwest Ear Institute at St. Luke's 16 years ago.
FOX4 previously reported that the group helped work things out with insurance. Kierra got the surgery, and the audiologist said it was a success.
'Her face just lit up and she was just like, 'What is that.' It was amazing,' Hill said.
Kierra said before the cochlear implants, she couldn't hear a single sound. No voices, laughter or music. Now, that's all changed.
'It's going perfect,' Kierra said.
'Very clear,' Barnett said.
Kierra can hear. She also learned to speak. The 18-year-old said she's living a life full of sound, communicating and connecting.
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Although, Kierra said there has been some unwelcome chatter over the years regarding her cochlear implants.
'It's been a rough life because I get made fun of for it. A lot of kids just pick on me most of the time, but I'm just trying to be myself and I just want people to like me for who I am,' Kierra said. 'But they just can't accept that. I just told them, 'I'm just glad I can hear and can talk.''
As Kierra steps into her future, she's grateful for this support system.
'All the support that I've had in my life growing up, I'm just thankful that I can hear, and insurance covered everything,' Kierra said. 'I'm just thankful for everything.'
Kierra also sent FOX4 a letter saying: 'Thank you for helping give my story a voice when I didn't have one.'
Now, she has a message for others:
'Just be yourself,' Kierra said. 'Don't worry about what other people think about you.'
Kierra plans to attend State Fair Community College where she'll study accounting and business.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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