A 3-year-old boy with a heart condition can hear again after a cochlear implant fitted by teams from the Military Medical Academy (VMA) and the National Cardiology Hospital in Sofia. He is in good condition and has gone home.

His weak heart made the surgery many times riskier, so doctors split the treatment into two stages.

First, Dr Elisaveta Levunlieva of the National Cardiology Hospital and VMA doctors fitted a temporary pacemaker. Then a VMA team led by Prof Dr Ventsislav Tsvetkov implanted the cochlear device.

Doctors hope the boy will now be able to hear the voices of his family and learn to speak.

The operation took place on the feast day of St John of Rila, who is also the patron saint of doctors.