P.E.I. curler who had 'life-changing' surgery eager to compete in Canada Games

Makiya Noonan was 13 months old when she underwent surgery for cochlear implants — at the time, according to her family, she was the youngest person in Canada to get both implants done in one surgery.

Now 16 years old, the P.E.I. curler is gearing up to compete in the Canada Games in February.

Makiya doesn't remember life before her implants, but says she can't imagine living without them.

"I'm very thankful that I do have them and being able to hear the world," she said. 

"I find it very cool, since I don't remember it [the surgery]." 

The teen from Summerside, P.E.I., said many people don't know she's deaf — the implants are hidden by her long, dark hair.

"People they have no idea unless I tell them," she said. 

Makiya got into curling after trying an introduction to curling program at school and fell in love with the sport.

Coach Robbie Lenentine describes her as a positive and outgoing person who makes everyone laugh — and says she's also a very talented curler.

"This girl has got real potential."

Lenentine isn't sure if noise will be an issue at the Canada Games, so the team has tested out a microphone that will allow the skip to speak directly to Makiya.

"They tried it at practice once," he said. "There will be a lot of crowd noise, and at any competition you go to there's a lot of noise on the ice." 

Mom Kristin Noonan said having the surgery so young was hugely beneficial.

"We knew it would be life-changing," she said. "She's got perfect speech, she hears very well and we still do sign language on the side, so she has full communication."