At just a year old, Tatum Lanier, became the 1000th patient to get a cochlear implant at UNC.
Her big brother has one too, both their parents are deaf.
Tatum was able to get her check up at UNC's Cochlear Implant Mobile Unit, allowing her family to stay at home in Onslow County and not drive the three hours to Chapel Hill.
"Across the country when we look at accessing care, it's a real problem. Not a lot in the rural communities, pediatric care, and pediatric cochlear implant care. The mobile unit is used to address that issue. We want all children in our state to have the opportunity to hear," said Melissa Anderson who is an Audiologist at UNC.
Lillian Anderson, a speech manager at UNC, was in the room the day Tatum heard for the first time.
"They said don't say anything. The family wanted her brother's voice to be the first she heard," said Anderson.
And after 10 years of care at UNC, the Lanier family is grateful.
It's even inspired Tatum to think about what she wants to be when she grows up.
"Maybe a pharmacist, cause I think studying medicine's kinda cool," said Tatum.
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