tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62372777975636985442024-03-14T09:25:36.913-07:00Vision of Children Foundation - Insights of Vision Losswww.visionofchildren.org | 858.314.7917 | @VOC_Foundation | On Facebook, YouTube, PinterestThe Vision of Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03253101685310557133noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237277797563698544.post-60065449671657462472014-05-16T12:59:00.001-07:002014-05-16T12:59:53.156-07:00One Family's Perspective on Dr. Struck's Dopamine Replacement Trial (OCA)<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Do
you think he would rather wear cheese or throw cheese?” </span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This question from Finn, our nine-year old
son, marked the end of our visit to Madison - Wisconsin. It was the last of
three trips to the University of Wisconsin where he was taking part in a clinical
drug trial. Standing in the airport gift shop, Finn was trying to decide on a
gift for his seven-year old brother Oscar and had narrowed the choices down to
either a “cheese head” hat or a “cheese” football. As Finn debated the pros and cons of each
souvenir it struck me that this decision was more difficult for Finn to make
than it had been for him (and us) to agree to take part in the dopamine drug
trial. He finally selected the football
and we were the last passengers to board the plane for Canada. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Finn was born with oculocutaneous albinism,
OCA1. When he was three-months old we were given the hopeless diagnosis; our
son was legally blind. There was nothing we could do for his vision, and to <i>“...come back again in five years.”</i>
Since that diagnosis, together with our fantastic pediatric ophthalmologist, Dr.
Terri Young, </span><span style="color: #0e002d; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">we
did everything</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> that could be
done to help improve his vision including patching and strabismus surgery, but
these interventions did not solve all his vision problems. Fast forward to
April 2013: we learned about Dr. Struck’s clinical drug trial at UW Health to
study the effects of dopamine replacement on the eyesight of people with OCA1.
After some background research and speaking with Finn’s ophthalmologist, we
presented Finn with all the facts. It would mean three trips to Madison, some
missed school and taking pills three times per day for three months. We
explained that he might also experience some side effects like an upset stomach
and bad dreams. Finally, after going through it all, we had to tell him there
was a chance that the drug would not have any effect on his vision. Tough stuff
for a nine-year old to comprehend, but Finn is a competitive soccer player and
never leaves anything on the field. He decided it was worth the effort
regardless of the outcome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our first visit with Dr. Struck and his
team was in May 2013. The clinical research coordinator, Angie Wealti, greeted
us warmly in the lobby of the UW Heath Eye Clinic. Understandably both Finn and
I were nervous but Dr. Struck was engaging and friendly. He and Finn chatted
about Premier League soccer and Finn’s favorite players all the while answering
some general eye and health related questions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Over the next six hours, with a quick
break for a snack around lunchtime, Finn participated in five vision tests. He
was asked to arrange colors in a spectrum, read eye charts and look at black
and white dots and patterns on a television screen. According to Finn the
electroretinogram was the most exciting test. It involved sitting in a dark
room for forty-five minutes and then looking at red dots and white flashes on a
monitor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Angie escorted us from one test to the
next, along the way introducing us to all the doctors, orthoptists and </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ophthalmic </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">technicians who work on this
project. Everyone was friendly, caring
and helpful and took the time to explain each test to Finn directly, telling
him why they needed to do it and what it measured. Finn’s natural curiosity
took over and by the end of the first visit he thought he might give a short
presentation to his class about his experiences with the clinical trial.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The second visit was three months
later, after Finn had been on the prescribed drug protocol for
Levodopa/Carbidopa. Identical to the first set of tests, Finn now knew what to
expect and was more relaxed and very curious about the result of each test. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Over the course of the three months
that Finn took the pills, he only experienced a tummy ache one morning after
taking the pill on an empty stomach. The most difficult part of the whole
process was remembering to take the pills after each meal every day. We did forget a couple of times but after the
first month it became a habit. The final visit with Dr. Struck and his team
took just two hours and we were done before lunch. As usual the visit was well-organized and
seamless with almost no waiting time between each test. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Participation in Dr. Struck’s clinical
drug trial was a positive learning experience for Finn and our family. He
learned about OCA1 from a different perspective. Undergoing the tests and
speaking directly with the doctors sparked his interest in learning everything
he could about his condition and then taking ownership of that knowledge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A year later, Finn looks upon his
participation in the drug trial as a positive and constructive experience, one
where he was able to do something proactive to help himself. Back at school he
now approaches his “differences” from a confident point of view. He has learned
to be an effective advocate for himself regarding his low vision. Most
importantly, on our last flight home from Madison while gripping the “cheese”
football, he told me that even if no improvement in his vision is detected, he
felt that he has <i>“helped science”</i> and
that maybe his contribution “...<i>could
help other kids in the future, but we won’t know unless we try<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="GoBack"></a>
these kinds of things Mom.” <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 150%;"><i>This post was contributed by <b>Roben Stikeman Boyle</b>, a VOC Family Network Member and mother of a participant in Dr. Struck's Dopamine Replacement Clinical Trial. Thank you, Roben, for sharing your family's story with us. </i></span></div>
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The Vision of Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03253101685310557133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237277797563698544.post-67684241227373850642014-04-22T10:01:00.002-07:002014-04-22T10:01:20.218-07:00The Will To See - A Family Network Member's Perspective<div>
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We'd like to take a moment to introduce a VOC Family Network Member who provides a constant source of encouragement and information for families living with a vision disorder.<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
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Sarah is a mom to two boys and a Swissy puppy, a marketing
consultant, passionate blogger, aspiring author and technology geek. Since 2005,
when her oldest son was born with gastrointestinal complications, Sarah has built
and grown her consulting business, DeNike Communications. In 2009, after her
youngest son was diagnosed with Ocular Albinism, she started <a href="http://thewilltosee.com/"><i>The Will
to See</i></a>, a blog that chronicles the balancing act of raising children
with vision and GI issues while building advocacy and a voice for these
conditions. <o:p></o:p></div>
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While it began as an outlet for coping with life’s daily
struggles and joys, <i>The Will to See </i>has
become a resource for families struggling with pediatric GI and vision issues. You
can follow Sarah here….<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnNpQ2VWP73cP6TpnEOSntdRc85w93PP3oHMDIac_KwIy9Dv4Cr7z2vdQZQjGTfFlShoU1CEYU7a5YBvEcmM47YcaNF3pPhLEI3eaqiVTrkMZDn1Lh1lMAkioHIByDqFlEeKE2drE4Q/s1600/Sarah+Denike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnNpQ2VWP73cP6TpnEOSntdRc85w93PP3oHMDIac_KwIy9Dv4Cr7z2vdQZQjGTfFlShoU1CEYU7a5YBvEcmM47YcaNF3pPhLEI3eaqiVTrkMZDn1Lh1lMAkioHIByDqFlEeKE2drE4Q/s1600/Sarah+Denike.jpg" /></a>Blog – <a href="http://www.thewilltosee.com/">The Will to See</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Facebook – <a href="http://facebook.com/thewilltosee">http://facebook.com/thewilltosee</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Twitter - <a href="https://twitter.com/thewilltosee">@thewilltosee</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Instagram - <a href="http://instagram.com/thewilltosee">@thewilltosee</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Flickr – <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thewilltosee">thewilltosee</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Google+ - <a href="https://plus.google.com/+Thewilltosee/posts">https://plus.google.com/+Thewilltosee/posts</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Pinterest - <a href="http://pinterest.com/thewilltosee/">@thewilltosee</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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YouTube - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/sldenike">http://www.youtube.com/user/sldenike</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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You can also look forward to a guest post from Sarah on our blog as well. </div>
The Vision of Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03253101685310557133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237277797563698544.post-75478705582801677412014-03-17T14:31:00.003-07:002014-03-17T14:35:42.602-07:00"No Need for Sight When You Have a Vision"<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEief2xXc-rlHRuDIYG9shfXoJXUl0vutrVw5NsdzZNZBQemqclDE_dlecYf45T8jd4VIShGE2FjuLD5D4RkOZkvmHfLJEk75E02ztDSODXFewCX8CFYFKNMxhW8TVz3BEneNrQtaYF2lg/s1600/lex+gillette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEief2xXc-rlHRuDIYG9shfXoJXUl0vutrVw5NsdzZNZBQemqclDE_dlecYf45T8jd4VIShGE2FjuLD5D4RkOZkvmHfLJEk75E02ztDSODXFewCX8CFYFKNMxhW8TVz3BEneNrQtaYF2lg/s1600/lex+gillette.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: 0px;"> “No need for sight when you have a vision.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This motto is from an American
track and field Paralympic athlete named Lex Gillette. As a child, he
experienced retina detachment in both eyes and was ultimately left without
sight. Yet even though Lex was unable to see, he didn’t let this stop him from
achieving his dream. He won a silver
medal from the 2012 Paralympic Games, a world championship and gold medal in
the long jump for the USA in 2013. These incredible achievements were all accomplished
not with his sight, but by having a vision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> As a member
of the Delta Gamma Fraternity, Lex Gillette’s story really impacted me. Delta
Gamma’s philanthropic purpose is Service for Sight and helping the visually
impaired. As a member, I volunteer at the Braille Institute and participate in
events pertaining to helping the visually impaired. I am continually surprised when attending
these events how much people with vision disorders can impact me. Hearing their
life stories and how they have overcome difficulties is so inspirational to me.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Because of
Lex Gillette and Delta Gamma’s philanthropic purpose, I found myself as an
intern for the Vision of Children. A
couple years ago, a vision disorder was something I never even thought
about. I was very naive about visual
impairment because it wasn’t ever a part of my life. Yet now, two years later, I am having a blast
as I learn new things and am giving part of myself to help the blind and visually
impaired. Whenever I come across stories like Lex Gillette’s, it simply amazes
me and brings me such happiness knowing that I can be involved with a
foundation that focuses on helping the visually impaired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lex Gillettes site: <a href="http://www.lexgillette.com/">http://www.lexgillette.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2u8XTV7B_vWxfKKYWdSHTEvODdTbZ9cYI7QlWg8OGAnrsA_1b42VUMDe2MDwQQhAeIi_-veukclArhrp_O0U4KrXTpng1uV_jRgyJd-uE_hm7RVrVIEd9R6g-Nraw_dPdlw5BdvBCgA/s1600/Kayla+Ferrell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2u8XTV7B_vWxfKKYWdSHTEvODdTbZ9cYI7QlWg8OGAnrsA_1b42VUMDe2MDwQQhAeIi_-veukclArhrp_O0U4KrXTpng1uV_jRgyJd-uE_hm7RVrVIEd9R6g-Nraw_dPdlw5BdvBCgA/s1600/Kayla+Ferrell.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Kayla, a VOC Intern and student at San Diego State University </span><o:p></o:p><br />
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The Vision of Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03253101685310557133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237277797563698544.post-63096507227828635362013-10-02T10:05:00.001-07:002013-10-02T10:05:56.721-07:00Two Exciting Events This Quarter<div class="MsoNormal">
We’re gearing up for two VOC events: the 8<sup>th</sup>
World Symposium and our Holiday High Tea Fundraising event with Ann Romney.
Both of these events are very exciting for Vision of Children for different
reasons. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Eighth World Symposium</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Soon after its inception in 1991, Vision of Children began
hosting Symposiums with our top researchers from around the world. These symposiums offer a unique approach to
advancing vision research, in that they allow researchers to share their data
and findings with each other before the final results are published. In addition, VOC Family Network members are
invited to attend these symposiums, and not only learn about the cutting edge
research occurring in vision science, but also meet the scientists who are
making these advances. The 8<sup>th</sup> World Symposium will be held at the
Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa on November 6-8. Find more information and register to attend
at <a href="http://www.visionofchildren.org/2013-symposium">visionofchildren.org/2013-symposium</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Visions of Success: From Research to Reality</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLoy9Vs-msefp2Fmr222intYUuDeJvLpxNcmlWcYBzage963-SgHWzECSBDJ62QkxXAiHyeT_qXmgSYQpM9wVi5Xx8IKzR-vG1PjLEtLtjGMhxIBSSPZEofUdsAvnklzJ55wl2jzq8g/s1600/Visions+of+Success+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxLoy9Vs-msefp2Fmr222intYUuDeJvLpxNcmlWcYBzage963-SgHWzECSBDJ62QkxXAiHyeT_qXmgSYQpM9wVi5Xx8IKzR-vG1PjLEtLtjGMhxIBSSPZEofUdsAvnklzJ55wl2jzq8g/s320/Visions+of+Success+image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The second event is a fundraising event called Visions of
Success: From Research to Reality. The highlight of the event will be a Holiday
High Tea with keynote speaker, Ann Romney, a breast cancer survivor, health
advocate, and dedicated supporter of vision health. This event will be taking
place on December 9<sup>th</sup>, at the Grand Del Mar in San Diego, and will
include an opportunity drawing, informal modeling of holiday fashions, and a
raffle for a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo (donated by Midway Jeep Chrysler
Dodge & Ram). We are greatly anticipating this event, as the proceeds will
be used to bolster research funding for Vision of Children and for American
Cancer Society-sponsored research in San Diego county for rare and aggressive
forms of breast cancer. For more information, or to become a sponsor, please
visit <a href="http://www.visionofchildren.org/holiday-high-tea">visionofchildren.org/holiday-high-tea</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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The Vision of Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03253101685310557133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237277797563698544.post-47614737674758209822013-08-29T06:22:00.000-07:002013-08-29T06:22:30.904-07:00Synergies of Philanthropy<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Megan Powers</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What an interesting time it is to be working in philanthropy – to get behind a tremendous philanthropic effort. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZz6HhS6rTV1j-xlCphnxW2tF_OaNa3FVJgBa0i9JrrOLC_d0DHMrdrI_lvpZA8uFIjSggvJCtX6kxAO2sT8B8dAL8UYNFjiWBCgUM05Jsf33hiWSTx8puermxfyB3Wh3XjjB31Cxcw/s1600/philanthropy_definition.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZz6HhS6rTV1j-xlCphnxW2tF_OaNa3FVJgBa0i9JrrOLC_d0DHMrdrI_lvpZA8uFIjSggvJCtX6kxAO2sT8B8dAL8UYNFjiWBCgUM05Jsf33hiWSTx8puermxfyB3Wh3XjjB31Cxcw/s200/philanthropy_definition.gif" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My philanthropic spirit got started early, having been involved with the “Dance-A-Thon” at my church for several years, before finally chairing the event in 7th grade. Raising money for “Jerry’s Kids” was an annual thing and one we fully supported, despite the fact that we didn't know anyone who needed to benefit from their research or services. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remember those days when people would sponsor you by the hour or by the mile for a walk-a-thon? I felt like it was something I was supposed to do—it was intrinsic to who I was. It’s still who I am today, only now I have different reasons for supporting the charities I support. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I may work for a charity, but my situation is unique. I was already a volunteer fundraiser for Vision of Children and other vision-related organizations before coming to work here. This isn't because anyone in my life has a vision issue, but because of Delta Gamma. “Service for Sight” is DG's chosen philanthropy, and as I've continued to be involved as an alumna, I have continued to support it. It's through my volunteer work with DG that I was fundraising for VOC and met the founders, Sam and Vivian Hardage. It turns out they also support something else that’s important to me. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKK-ELorYJG9LM4beMZWBC0Uz-J-ynmiN7QexfyxgmlPAUYpcbKTxHHBr1SEs0ed26z6BO3rj76fvo_i58tlwAbNM1-Wxvmk7SisAI99VGvEeecSjPDFnCgm1eG-VxSz6VvmOfU6CVxQ/s1600/strides_pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKK-ELorYJG9LM4beMZWBC0Uz-J-ynmiN7QexfyxgmlPAUYpcbKTxHHBr1SEs0ed26z6BO3rj76fvo_i58tlwAbNM1-Wxvmk7SisAI99VGvEeecSjPDFnCgm1eG-VxSz6VvmOfU6CVxQ/s320/strides_pic.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Andria Kinnear, VOC's ED (on left), and I <br />walked in honor of Vivian in 2012</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My greatest passion outside of vision is the fight against breast cancer. Since 2006 I've been one of the top fundraisers (a “Pacesetter”) for American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">San Diego</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. In seven years (and counting) I've raised around $25,000. And, while it took some effort, it wasn't hard. What’s hard, is having to battle the disease three times. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vivian has battled breast cancer three times and is winning the fight because of tremendous strides that have been made in research. And now, at work, I have the opportunity to not only fundraise for Vision of Children, but also for American Cancer Society. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Vision of Children Foundation is holding a fundraiser on December 9th that will benefit our organization AND American Cancer Society. This special event is called <b>“Visions of Success – From Research to Reality,”</b> and will be a Holiday High Tea, held at The Grand Del Mar. The keynote speaker will be Ann Romney – Ann is a breast cancer survivor, health advocate, and dedicated supporter of vision health. She will address the critical need for medical research to cure breast cancer and genetic vision diseases. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Synergy has become an "office buzzword," but sometimes there is no better word that applies.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphSf-OxDQh486K1bCcMj8iojV5c9HGSMjoKyImX2-f1cYeVk_bLsDCoQ8XeP6-QO6bPvSwrPkM0yKJv1KZ-CiXUlI5mvPP8JfIGdr_Lm1YlbgEsUUoCSOirZ40Le9Im1vt7bjkXVweg/s1600/synergy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphSf-OxDQh486K1bCcMj8iojV5c9HGSMjoKyImX2-f1cYeVk_bLsDCoQ8XeP6-QO6bPvSwrPkM0yKJv1KZ-CiXUlI5mvPP8JfIGdr_Lm1YlbgEsUUoCSOirZ40Le9Im1vt7bjkXVweg/s200/synergy.gif" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are my philanthropies that will be joined together—a beautiful synergy. What is your philanthropy? What have you—or will you—dedicate yourself to that’s bigger than yourself?
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Megan Powers, VOC Director of Development & Communications</span>The Vision of Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03253101685310557133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237277797563698544.post-57750078379232231342013-08-15T16:14:00.001-07:002013-08-15T16:47:01.071-07:00I Think I Can, I Think I Can<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHXHFMQx-ADhRoPiAE167OTqq0KqzU0DcuUVfOovL5Rn0zgISeuOjR9cBzRG3tl8kwQvGAewVV0UGRlf7cl5ROEpRPlg6j9jm-SD7ydi88pcAD8-v0bdKwtfqrpw9PMH3cauuQWz9jw/s1600/kelley_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHXHFMQx-ADhRoPiAE167OTqq0KqzU0DcuUVfOovL5Rn0zgISeuOjR9cBzRG3tl8kwQvGAewVV0UGRlf7cl5ROEpRPlg6j9jm-SD7ydi88pcAD8-v0bdKwtfqrpw9PMH3cauuQWz9jw/s200/kelley_sm.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kelley on vacation in South Dakota</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Kelley Burr</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's at least one time in our lives that we are told we won't be able to do something. For instance, I recall hearing, “Kelley, if you jump off that couch you will not fly.” Of course, I completely ignored that statement and after a few </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">stellar</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">bruises, realized that gravity was one thing that will never change. Although my multiple attempts at flying failed, my determination never wavered. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After learning that their child has a visual disorder, families are usually faced with the words “most likely your child will not…” Although frightening, these words are not a statement of fact. Witnessing the accomplishments that so many kids have made with visual impairments is inspiring. They are playing sports, driving cars, and becoming successful adults. Surpassing all odds, they are pursuing their dreams and succeeding. Rather than suffering from visual impairments, they are living with it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These children and their families are what inspire The Vision of Children Foundation to continue to pursue their goal of finding a cure for hereditary childhood blindness and vision disorders. We are determined to fix this problem so that children will never have to hear that they cannot do something because of their vision disorder. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines determination as a “firm or fixed intention to achieve a desired end.” Hold on to that determination and you might be surprised at what you will accomplish! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-VOC Summer Intern, Kelley, is an undergraduate at the University of Northern Colorado, studying Recreation, Tourism, and Hospitality. She has headed back to CO for her last year of college and will be missed at VOC!</span>The Vision of Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03253101685310557133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237277797563698544.post-15757884017793319952013-08-01T10:36:00.000-07:002013-08-01T14:41:19.439-07:00Learning to See Through His Eyes<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4u-yTWL4UlxKYFgsmXIVTRcwRF6VhHGQ7x4QeTppEQYEWg8WgxSaq4-COOEMeCqazW6KhNVy44I008SSTsWrisaE1INOuNbUQHY6_KmQ3b1F3uLDZPi2JCAA7sBbA3dltlVhXoOTWg/s1600/IMG_0161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4u-yTWL4UlxKYFgsmXIVTRcwRF6VhHGQ7x4QeTppEQYEWg8WgxSaq4-COOEMeCqazW6KhNVy44I008SSTsWrisaE1INOuNbUQHY6_KmQ3b1F3uLDZPi2JCAA7sBbA3dltlVhXoOTWg/s200/IMG_0161.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clarence with Mom, Melody, when <br />he was in kindergarten</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are so many things I have learned through having a visually impaired child that I really don’t know where to begin. Clarence is a handsome, healthy looking 11-year-old boy and very excited to start 6th grade this year. Now, if you pay close attention, you would be able to see there’s something different about him. He plays at recess with his classmates, he loves to play sports, especially basketball, but he can’t always see where the ball is. That’s a snapshot of Clarence--you wouldn't think he had a disability if you just saw him in passing. Funny thing is, sometimes I forget he can’t see very well, especially in low light or dusk, or after a busy day. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2vI90KR9gk4ykQk8KNw6LHSjivaeNZUP2mostbd1rVyr01UpHFfY6kvAj8n3OpkZjE_lQsPUNEDHzlPS29kHRtfF__SfYRVlrmWGcQpM2ci23mRxWtqb897ctQCku5y1kVKbLlTNig/s1600/DSCN0485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2vI90KR9gk4ykQk8KNw6LHSjivaeNZUP2mostbd1rVyr01UpHFfY6kvAj8n3OpkZjE_lQsPUNEDHzlPS29kHRtfF__SfYRVlrmWGcQpM2ci23mRxWtqb897ctQCku5y1kVKbLlTNig/s200/DSCN0485.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On his church league basketball team</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My son is legally blind due to a neurological vision impairment. This is a condition in which the visual centers of the brain do not process information normally, in his case, due to a brain bleed he suffered at birth. As a result, my son has hemianopsia, which means he has reduced peripheral vision on the right side with both eyes. His eyes also shake from side to side and in a circle--this condition is called nystagmus. This causes him to see images moving or jumping, affecting his depth perception, balance and hand-eye coordination. All of this at times slows him down a bit, but </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">doesn't stop him, and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he perseveres. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes when I have a challenge before me and am tempted to quit I think of my son and how he figures a way to do whatever he sets his mind to. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also learned not only is it okay to ask for help, but that people want to help -- It’s a blessing to be a blessing. His classmates are a wonderful group of kids. Most have been with Clarence since kindergarten and they love him and want to be his helper for the day. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sonTEbAa1Tzen7UKF0dkES34TqkUIYVfPV8LiI_at97N5QfNZW5RFG2KcMvlEfvrWmzjme7_9KsGkiw7_yH13qn9rd0ZUU4_i1z9H7OqaDIEAPmQLpXbSF0acSRRBgLWPbAZ-prI-w/s1600/DSCN0549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sonTEbAa1Tzen7UKF0dkES34TqkUIYVfPV8LiI_at97N5QfNZW5RFG2KcMvlEfvrWmzjme7_9KsGkiw7_yH13qn9rd0ZUU4_i1z9H7OqaDIEAPmQLpXbSF0acSRRBgLWPbAZ-prI-w/s320/DSCN0549.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Goofing around with a friend!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used to lament when I see a beautiful scenic point or a vibrant rainbow that my son is missing something so special, but he taught me there are different ways to “see.” I have found out that sometimes my vision gets in the way of seeing beauty all around me. Sounds funny doesn't it? But since I can "see" quite well, never needing glasses, I hurry and rush through my day. I can't do that when Clarence is with me; I have to slow down and then I realize how I take </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">my vision</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for granted and miss out on my surroundings. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am learning to view life and the world differently, through his eyes. He has taught me through overcoming the difficulties that come, that there is always an answer. There is always a way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Melody Kehres, proud Mom</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bakersfield, CA</span>The Vision of Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03253101685310557133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237277797563698544.post-61575115823795123132013-07-01T14:29:00.001-07:002013-08-01T15:29:11.338-07:00Do Good, Look Good, and See Great!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As summer rolls in it is time to “roll out”, sporting your
most stylish pair of sunglasses, of course. Whether you are a fan of the Tom
Cruise Aviators, or rocking the Ray-Bans; sunglasses make a statement. And, if you have one of the eye conditions
that Vision of Children is focused on, there is also a good chance that you are
light-sensitive, making sunglasses even more necessary. This realization prompted me to start looking
into various eyewear companies. </span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are a glasses company like
Proof Eyewear, Warby Parker, or Toms, the statement you make is more than just
a fashionable one. These companies, along with others, have made it their
mission to sell a product that makes a difference. Their “Do Good” philosophy
is changing lives and providing sight to people worldwide.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97q9-z3NQnYymxfY2zM66JdpMyI6Pf2XUKV8P5qYKmCWPM7NlklK6vWsSr0VY7GpSs1HKurnYh0pzjvoT_9XpDQBZi2fJswm_Rq_urEf5DB5HUbUZJL78BedkjqFCKlx9APtt4B1U1Q/s1600/taylor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97q9-z3NQnYymxfY2zM66JdpMyI6Pf2XUKV8P5qYKmCWPM7NlklK6vWsSr0VY7GpSs1HKurnYh0pzjvoT_9XpDQBZi2fJswm_Rq_urEf5DB5HUbUZJL78BedkjqFCKlx9APtt4B1U1Q/s1600/taylor.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Taylor Dame</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got a
chance to speak with Taylor Dame, one of three brothers that founded Proof
Eyewear, who told me their story. Inspired by their grandfather who opened a
small sawmill almost 60 years ago, they use wood to make many of their products
because they wanted to create unique, environmentally friendly products made
from sustainable materials. But more importantly, they wanted to provide
products that have meaning and give back. From this, Proof Eyewear was born
with a “Do Good” purpose.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When they
see a need, Proof takes on the challenge. They have donated to a variety of
charities focused on reforestation in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Haiti</st1:country-region>,
disaster relief for the tsunami in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region>,
and helping recovered child soldiers in <st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place>.
What really caught my eye, were Proof’s contributions to a charity in India
that treats curable sight disorders and provides sight-giving surgeries to
those in need; raising $25,000 in a year—money that will be used to open an eye
clinic in an under-served area of India. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UWgD2jQMCi57PqBbZ7i9fP9FpJihLvT8word9fqNxA5HTRR9zVR7fZVZAmNONET1YABUGNFhoSd9rSC4pUCjmJPKTvcGzTVZNU3m6py7CK2HWUs-sjjG2nojAG7OD26OwDs0fiFRIg/s1600/proof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UWgD2jQMCi57PqBbZ7i9fP9FpJihLvT8word9fqNxA5HTRR9zVR7fZVZAmNONET1YABUGNFhoSd9rSC4pUCjmJPKTvcGzTVZNU3m6py7CK2HWUs-sjjG2nojAG7OD26OwDs0fiFRIg/s320/proof.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Dame Brothers on Shark Tank</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While
Proof is helping to treat those with curable sight disorders, VOC remains
devoted to helping those with incurable hereditary sight conditions. Maybe one
day, Proof and other eyewear companies will expand their focus to work
alongside The Vision of Children Foundation to find a treatment for “incurable”
hereditary conditions.</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is great to see for-profit
eyewear companies change lives by giving people the gift of sight. Like VOC,
rather than accepting that “seeing is believing”, they believe so that others
may see. Each step toward clear eyesight is progress, and we hope that one day
every child will see clearly! Thank you to all of these companies who are
making a difference, and keep up your “Do Good” work!</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-VOC Summer Intern, Kelley Burr, is an undergraduate at the University of Northern Colorado studying Recreation, Tourism, and Hospitality.</span></span></div>
The Vision of Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03253101685310557133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237277797563698544.post-4151794659251990442013-06-13T10:23:00.000-07:002013-06-13T10:23:35.952-07:00Inspiring Family Network Kid and a Mother's Pride<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having been "in business" since 1991, Vision of Children has come to know many of the kids we are trying to help and whose families we have provided support to over the years. Nathan Deese has not only survived, but he has thrived, despite being legally blind. The first part of this blog is from Nathan's Mom, Stacy Fisher, and then an awesome letter from Nathan himself! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><3 VOC</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMKU2BQMDywOPllFat-r7OZqFXOPjGJS_5wbTsZ07gyxlUuAqk2zupZldsd0mDGG_toedhOxMGmS3nq0VBo2FMu8u4WSukPjwGRGoa_ZQG4AdiZGKZexVclioWPf7dRxqaVnqbEXM4w/s1600/nathan_graduation2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMKU2BQMDywOPllFat-r7OZqFXOPjGJS_5wbTsZ07gyxlUuAqk2zupZldsd0mDGG_toedhOxMGmS3nq0VBo2FMu8u4WSukPjwGRGoa_ZQG4AdiZGKZexVclioWPf7dRxqaVnqbEXM4w/s320/nathan_graduation2013.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nathan was
diagnosed with ocular albinism with nystagmus when he was 3-months-old. My older
brother and two of my nephews are also affected. He has been treated by Dr.
Zane Pollard in Atlanta since that time. Dr. Pollard did an eye muscle surgery
on Nathan when he was 2-years-old, and at 3-years-old he began wearing
glasses. We have been blessed to have wonderful people in our public school
system that have worked with Nathan to meet his classroom needs. He has exceeded academically since Pre-K and we're about to send him off to college.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The work that Vision of Children (VOC) is
doing is so important to our family! We greatly appreciate the efforts that are
going into researching OA (and many other vision disorders) which will
hopefully lead to a cure or treatment one day. It is a rare disorder, so creating awareness is key & we feel that VOC is doing just that! Because of the work they are doing we also have hope that there will one day be a cure for OA. We look forward to the newsletter and enjoy reading posts that inform us of the progress being made
through research, and the stories that others share are inspiring. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Stacy</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Vision of Children, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> My name is Nathan Deese and I am a recent honor graduate of Douglas County High School in Douglasville, Georgia. I also participated in the International Baccalaureate Program (IB), which is the most rigorous academic program offered in the world. In the fall of 2013, I will attend Georgia Tech and plan to major in Aerospace Engineering and minor in Spanish. I have accomplished all of this, and plan to accomplish more, while having ocular albinism with nystagmus. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gDdMtNFYJW1zU7xx7hM6w9iFs1G23Y76d5RZRdhJj9Veh6N8KpTQPpuT2YcFHEmUi-plEE6SX9It2gt1X2_la9z7bgROwnDhydceP7jfROGfyRQm2bdJrjIyM9WaNYdQCs7jvKdpAQ/s1600/nathan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gDdMtNFYJW1zU7xx7hM6w9iFs1G23Y76d5RZRdhJj9Veh6N8KpTQPpuT2YcFHEmUi-plEE6SX9It2gt1X2_la9z7bgROwnDhydceP7jfROGfyRQm2bdJrjIyM9WaNYdQCs7jvKdpAQ/s200/nathan.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Having OA with nystagmus has indeed hindered me in some instances; I have to sit in the front of the class to be close to the board, and I am unable to play some sports, but I have learned to compensate for these situations in various ways. I use a monocular telescope in class that helps me see the board. At first I was extremely hesitant to use it and stand out, but I have surrounded myself with a supportive group of friends who do not view me any differently. Having such an amazing group of friends has made the past four years of high school so much easier. Since I cannot play sports such as baseball or football, I have become an avid runner. I also cannot drive, but again, my friends and family are always more than willing to get me where I need to be. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> My advice to anyone would be to take everything in stride and keep a positive attitude. It is extremely easy to become discouraged when you cannot see something far away that everyone else can, but if you look (well, probably squint) at the larger picture, it’s really not a big deal. A sense of humor is also important. My friends and I are always making jokes about my vision! We are able to see the humor in my vision and make jokes that are all in good fun. Lastly, the biggest piece of advice I can give is to always speak up for yourself. If you are unable to see something, don’t sit there and suffer - do something about it! There are many resources available to help. Always keep an open line of communication between yourself and teachers, as well as parents. The most important thing to realize is that being diagnosed with OA is not the end of the world. Always have a positive attitude and focus on your strengths rather than your weaknesses. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Best Wishes, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nathan Deese
</span>The Vision of Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03253101685310557133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237277797563698544.post-63684678341046855182013-05-30T11:50:00.000-07:002013-06-13T10:26:10.322-07:00CSR – “Buzzword” or Essential Piece of the Puzzle?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It does seem the words "greening," "sustainability" and "corporate social responsibility" (CSR) have become a bit over-used. People can be heard using these terms simply as buzzwords to try and sound like they care, but there typically isn't much depth to what they are saying. It’s tough to pinpoint what the solution is to that because what's at the heart of it all is SO important, but it is worth exploring. Perhaps digging a bit deeper to consider how the organizations we are associated with can do more should be examined. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those of you who belong to professional or social organizations typically attend their annual meetings or conferences. Many of these organizations have their own Foundations through which they provide their members with scholarships and education to advance their careers. But what about also providing members and attendees with the opportunity to do more? Those gathered in large numbers for meetings, conferences, and conventions have a tremendous chance to also help the local communities where these events are being held or a charity that might not be supported otherwise. There is great value in meeting face-to-face and supporting communities and charities in the process is another way to show that value.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Consider suggesting to the boards and planners of these annual meetings and conferences that they select a different charity to support each year. If they give their membership a chance to vote on which they will support each year, it will give them even more exposure of the efforts to make a positive impact on the communities in which they are meeting. It could be as little as $5-10 per registration or even just getting one extra sponsor for your golf tournament or opening/closing parties. Providing a charity sponsor-level exposure will also help with their visibility, which does not have a price tag, but still provides great value to that organization.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If we all continue to be creative about our social responsibility, more and more organizations that greatly need support will also be helped! Let's keep what's important in perspective.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Megan Powers, VOC Director of Development & Communications</span></div>
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The Vision of Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03253101685310557133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6237277797563698544.post-76273450890153080572013-05-16T13:15:00.000-07:002013-05-30T11:50:59.507-07:00Our Mission, A Mom's Gratitude and a Helped Kid!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our first post in this new blog comes from a thankful Mother in southern California. We were so touched by her gratitude that we asked her if we could share the letter. Part of the Vision of Children's mission is to improve the lives of visually impaired individuals and their families - we would say, based on this letter, we have done that for the Byzak family! Pictured above is Mom Amanda and Adam who is enjoying how his handheld magnifier helps him read.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We look forward to input from more and more Family Network Members and our researchers as we grow this blog as a resource for all who are touched by blindness and low vision.</span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><3 VOC</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3zg89egygM60Brms1haRmAFq6GATiOtC4lvjQ_NwhUZOLGyVB9JsMCKr7w7dk5CB79CFoeUfXjuKERoxwxij676o7FGqEMvq47eTExdsJ02ri5AQ-yJhmCJ5VRQDkhZPgfyRFF7K9Q/s1600/adam_magpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3zg89egygM60Brms1haRmAFq6GATiOtC4lvjQ_NwhUZOLGyVB9JsMCKr7w7dk5CB79CFoeUfXjuKERoxwxij676o7FGqEMvq47eTExdsJ02ri5AQ-yJhmCJ5VRQDkhZPgfyRFF7K9Q/s320/adam_magpic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Vision of Children Foundation, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Earlier this school year, my five-year-old son, Adam, received an electronic magnifier, donated on your behalf. It has proven to be an invaluable tool in his learning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adam was born with albinism resulting in extremely low vision and is considered legally blind. Despite this, he has found ways to function successfully in his environment. However, now that we have started school, he has new challenges and more demands on his vision that he did not have before. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The electronic magnifier has helped him overcome those challenges in so many ways. One of the most important benefits is that he is able to sit with his classmates rather than have to sit separately from them while he uses a large CCTV in the corner of the room. This has reduced his barriers to building friendships--one of our major hurdles right now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At night, we use the magnifier in the bed when we read books so that he can see the details of the pictures better or, if I am having him read, to see the small print. This makes many more books available to us that were not useful to us before. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, the light in the room can be dim and he can still read because of the built in light on the magnifier. This has given him a wider range of comfortable settings for reading. When he was using the regular handheld magnifier we had to use it with bright light in the room which meant we always had to sit at the kitchen table. The electronic magnifier has made reading a more natural and enjoyable experience for the whole family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have also brought the magnifier with us during hikes and other outings because he is able to see so many things in greater detail. I have been able to take pictures of bugs and patterns on leaves and zoom in on them so that he could see them better. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you so much for helping our son gain access to the world around him. We are a family on a single income. It would have been a major financial challenge to us to be able to buy this magnifier on our own. Thank you for helping us meet his needs and the needs of our family at the same time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sincerely,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amanda Byzak</span><br />
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The Vision of Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03253101685310557133noreply@blogger.com1