Diane Lariscy knows the benefit of hearing aids. She relates that she did not realize how many things she was missing—simple, everyday sounds like the birds singing on a warm spring day or rain hitting the pavement during a summer shower.
She also wanted to be sure to hear her sister Denise’s voice when they conversed. Denise had hearing aids, also, for the same reason. The sisters were close and lived together for years, that is, until Denise passed away in May 2025. Diane says she misses her sister terribly and not a day goes by that she does not think about her.
Diane says Denise had the kindest heart. One story Diane shared punctuated her sister’s quality of caring. The sisters lived together near the ocean for many years before resettling in Middle Tennessee. During sea turtle nesting season, Denise was distressed by how many turtles were being run over by cars. Diane says, “She would pull the car over and help as many cross the road as she could. That was just her way. Trying to do good in the world.”
In acknowledgement of her sister’s love for sea turtles, Diane chose a cremation urn in Denise’s favorite color, purple, and with a sea turtle on it.
As Diane began to clean out Denise’s things from the home they shared, she found her sister’s hearing aids. She knew they could help someone else, so she donated them to the Johnson Audiology Hearing Foundation (JAHF). “It’s what Denise would have wanted,” she says.
Enter Tyler Harbison, 26, a young man who had struggled with hearing loss for several years. He found it especially difficult to communicate at work. Tyler has worked as a bagger at one of the Murfreesboro Kroger stores for eight years. In fact, Tyler is well known by store patrons for his solid work ethic and his friendliness. People call him by name and look forward to his cheerful attitude and bright smile.
The staff at Johnson Audiology knew Tyler needed hearing aids and wanted to knock down financial barriers that were preventing him from getting the help he needed to engage more fully in daily life. Diane’s sister’s donated hearing aids were just the ticket in making that happen. Tyler was so pleased and grateful to get his devices that he asked if he could meet the donor of the aids. Around the same time, Diane communicated how happy she was that someone was fit with the aids and wouldn’t it be great to meet that person someday. Donors and recipients’ names are always kept confidential, but since both parties were amenable to a meet-up, the JA staff made arrangements for them to have a face-to-face at the JA office.
It was a heartwarming afternoon. Diane got to tell Tyler about Denise, about her kind heart, and about her love for people and animals. In turn, Tyler gave Diane a poignant thank you card that noted how grateful he was for the gift of hearing that Diane made possible. With hugs all around, each got to feel good about what brought them together.
Dr. Megan Johnson, owner and founder of Johnson Audiology, says that stories like Tyler and Diane’s are exactly why she was moved to set up the Johnson Audiology Hearing Foundation in 2019. JAHF is a 501(s)(3) non-profit and the official charitable arm of Johnson Audiology.
Do you know someone who wishes to donate gently used hearing aids or to make a monetary contribution to JAHF? Or do you know someone who could benefit from being a recipient of Foundation aids? Visit the website now at
www.johnsonaudiology.com/foundation to learn more.
