“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 Centre and the University Clinical Centre in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and was able to hear her voice for the first time.
The 29-year-old Special Olympics athlete had been living with a severe hearing impairment in both ears his entire life. Sadly, the social discrimination and the difficulties in accessing and navigating the healthcare system in the rural areas of the country made it almost impossible for him to get the required treatments or access to a hearing aid.
However, through the tireless work of Special Olympics Bosnia and Herzegovina National Director, Kada Delic Selimovic, and the signing of a key Memorandum of Understanding with the Health Centre in Tuzla, circumstances changed.
On 5 June 2025, Selim was screened by Dr. Mladen Gurdeljević at the Health Centre and his life changed forever.
“I remember that moment very clearly. Everything was quiet, and then suddenly I heard my mom calling my name. It was her voice—the first voice I ever heard clearly.
I was in shock, but also full of joy. I cried and smiled at the same time. I will never forget that moment.”
Gaining the ability to hear has changed Selim’s everyday life for the better: he can now communicate more easily with his family and enjoy music His athletic performances have improved considerably and he now feels more confident and safe.
“After I got my hearing aid, I realized how much I had been missing. I used to not hear anything around me—and a few times, I almost got 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 just in sport, but in life.
I really love the sound of a football being kicked and the laughter of my friends. But I also enjoy music now. Since I started hearing, I’ve discovered how beautiful songs can be. Some of my favourite singers are Dino Merlin, Halid Bešlić, Enes Begović, and Zdravko Čolić. I like listening to their songs—they make me feel happy and calm.”
An instrumental figure in this life-changing experience, Dr. Mladen Gurdeljević was very moved and inspired by Selim’s journey, “He was quiet but cooperative, and he had a calm, gentle presence. As we conducted the hearing test, it quickly became evident 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 toward his mother’s voice. When she called him and he reacted instantly—it brought tears to everyone in the room. Being part of that moment, when someone hears clearly for the first time after nearly three decades, is a privilege beyond words. It reminds you why this work matters.”
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 Centre and the University Clinical Centre in Tuzla, aims at bridging these gaps and enabling better, more dignified lives for individuals like Selim.
“The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding was a strategic step aimed at ensuring that all Special Olympics athletes from across BiH have access to free medical screenings and healthcare support – something that many of them had never accessed before,” commented Special Olympics Bosnia and Herzegovina National Director, Kada Delic Selimovic.
“In addition to opening the Health Program Office in Tuzla, we are planning mobile outreach teams to visit remote areas and regular training for healthcare professionals so they can better understand and support people with intellectual disabilities. Our long-term vision is that every individual with an intellectual disability in BiH has equal access to health and dignity.”
Selim’s mother, Izeta Purkovic Mujanović, was deeply moved by the support received by Special Olympics, 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 open incredible opportunities—not only in sports but in health, friendship, and dignity.
Thanks to Special Olympics, our son has travelled, 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.”
