“He looked at me and said, ‘Mom, I can hear you.’ I cried and laughed at the same time. After 29 years, my son could finally hear me. That moment will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
Izeta Purkovic Mujanović received “the best birthday present [she had] ever received” last June, when her son Selim received his hearing aid at the Health Center and University Clinical Center in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and was able to hear her voice for the first time.
The 29-year-old Special Olympics athlete suffered from severe hearing loss in both ears his entire life. Unfortunately, social discrimination and the difficulties in accessing and navigating the healthcare system in the country’s rural areas made it nearly impossible for him to obtain the required treatments or access to a hearing aid.
However, due to the tireless work of the National Director of the Special Olympics Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kada Delic Selimovic, and the signing of an important Memorandum of Understanding with the Health Center in Tuzla, circumstances changed.
On June 5, 2025, Selim was shown by Dr. Mladen Gurdeljević at the Health Center and his life changed forever.
“I remember that moment very clearly. Everything was quiet and then suddenly I heard my mother calling my name. It was her voice – the first voice I ever heard clearly.
I was shocked, but also full of joy. I cried and smiled at the same time. I will never forget that moment.”
The ability to hear has changed Selim’s daily life for the better: he can now communicate with his family and enjoy music more easily. His athletic performance has improved significantly and he now feels more confident and secure.
“After I got my hearing aid, I realized how much I had missed. Before, I couldn’t hear anything around me – and a few times I was almost hit by a car because I couldn’t hear it coming. Now I feel much safer, especially when I’m walking or crossing the street.
I can hear my coach, my teammates and what’s going on around me. It makes a big difference, not only in sports, but also in life.
I really like the sound of a football being kicked and the laughter of my friends. But I also enjoy music now. Since I started listening, I’ve discovered how beautiful songs can be. Some of my favorite singers are Dino Merlin, Halid Bešlić, Enes Begović and Zdravko Čolić. I like listening to their songs; they make me feel happy and calm.”
Dr. Mladen Gurdeljević, an instrumental figure in this life-changing experience, was deeply moved and inspired by Selim’s journey: “He was quiet but cooperative, and he had a calm, gentle presence. When we performed the hearing test, it quickly became clear that he had a significant hearing impairment. What made the moment unforgettable was seeing his reaction after trying the hearing aid for the first time. He looked up, surprised, and turned to his mother’s voice. called and he responded immediately – it brought tears to everyone in the room. Being part of that moment, when someone hears clearly for the first time in almost thirty years, is a privilege beyond words.
People with intellectual disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina still struggle to access adequate healthcare due to financial, systemic and social barriers. Special Olympics, in collaboration with the Health Center and the University Clinical Center in Tuzla, aims to bridge this gap and enable a better, more dignified life for individuals like Selim.
“The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding was a strategic step to ensure that all Special Olympics athletes from across Bosnia and Herzegovina have access to free medical screenings and healthcare support – something many of them have never had access to before,” said Special Olympics Bosnia and Herzegovina National Director Kada Delic Selimovic.
“In addition to the opening of the Health Program Office in Tuzla, we are planning mobile outreach teams to visit remote areas and regular training for healthcare professionals so that they can better understand and support people with intellectual disabilities. Our long-term vision is that every individual with intellectual disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina has equal access to health and dignity.”
Selim’s mother, Izeta Purkovic Mujanović, was deeply moved by the support Special Olympics received, and shared a message for other parents of children with intellectual disabilities who may be facing similar challenges: “Never give up and always believe in your child. Special Olympics can provide incredible opportunities – not only in sports, but also in health, friendship and dignity.
Thanks to Special Olympics, our son has traveled, competed, met new people and built his self-confidence. It means more to our family than words can describe. We feel accepted and respected. Now that he also has a hearing aid, that feeling of gratitude is even greater.”
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