A teenager who spent the first two years of his life in hospital and underwent three life-saving operations is in the running for a national award.

Kurran Doal, 15, from Loughton, has been shortlisted for ‘Most Inspiring Young Person’ category in The Asian Voice Awards.

This award comes only a year after Kurran appeared on a BBC appeal for the charity, Auditory Verbal UK, hosted by BBC Radio Two presenter Sara Cox. He has also spoken about his experiences at The House of Commons.

Born two months prematurely, Kurran spent the first two years of his life in hospital. This was followed by severe necroticizing entercolitis, and underwent three life – saving operations.

Kurran, who has mild cerebral palsy, defied the odds to walk and talk and has been called ‘a role model for young deaf people’.

Just as they thought he was over the worst, Kurran’s parents were told by doctors that he was profoundly deaf.

His father Avy said: “I felt helpless for the first time in my life and I was probably at my lowest ebb.

“Hearing aids made no difference and by the age of four, Kurran still hadn’t uttered a single comprehensible word.”

However, it was at this low point that his family began working with national charity Auditory Verbal UK, and Kurran was fitted with a cochlear implant. It was at this stage that things started to look up.

The charity provides pre-school aged deaf children with specialist auditory verbal therapy – a play-based technique that equips parents with the skills to develop their child’s speaking and listening through everyday life.

Kurran heard his first sound – a doorbell ­— six months later and said his first word – “mummy” aged four and a half.

Avy said: “Discovering Auditory Verbal UK was like finding a huge inflatable balloon full of hope, help and real progress. Every time we went to AV UK, we were inspired and had complete confidence that we were in the safest, expert pair of hands.”

Since this point Kurran has gone from strength to strength, both as a spokesman for deaf people and an example of what they can achieve.

Anita Grover, CEO at Auditory Verbal UK, said: “He is an outstanding young spokesman for the charity and a role model for young deaf people or those with additional needs and their families.”

The results of the Asian Voice Awards will be announced at the Hilton, Park Lane, London on May 17.

For more information about Auditory Verbal UK and Kurran’s story visit: https://www.avuk.org/kurrans-story