A Beautiful Vision

One of the things I love about the life of a photographer is the delicate thread that God weaves between the friendships I have made through clients and business associates with others. Megan is a perfect example of this and such an amazing person that I am soooo very thankful for!

I received Megan's email one night after we had put the kids to bed and my husband and I were enjoying some quiet time...catching up with each others day, coordinating calendars and checking emails together while watching the news- yes, major multitasking). As I was reading Megan's email I noticed he was reading along over my shoulder. My eyes watered as he said "you have to do this", to which I blurted out "of course I am!"

Megan's email essentially was complementing a portrait session of one of her close friends and was inquiring about a portrait session to capture the special relationship between her and one of her best friends. She also shared her inspiring story, which I feel is best communicated in her own words so I will let Megan take it from here...Hi, I'm Megan! I am legally blind and have a condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa. I have very limited tunnel vision and am completely blind in the dark. Eventually I will be totally blind. There are millions of people with diseases similar to mine.

Most people have about 180 degrees of vision- side to side and top to bottom. When I was diagnosed, I had about 60 degrees remaining. What I could see was nearly perfect. Beyond that 60 degrees though, there was nothing (which explained a rediculously clumsy childhood and avid fear of the dark at bedtime).
As I grew up, my vision grew smaller. By the time I was in high school I had about 20 degrees of vision left. Not totally blind as the previous doctors had predicted, but enough to be labeled “legally blind”. As my friends were taking drivers ed and picking out cars, I went down to Southeastern Guide Dogs and met Shay-Bay, my first guide dog and the best thing that resulted from my disease. Now that Shay-Bay is retired, my new guide dog O'Man has been even more of a blessing.One night, in an attempt to calm my sadness about going blind, I went online and found the Foundation Fighting Blindness. It was my way to do something about a situation that at times felt hopeless and take control! I discovered that a fundraising event, VisionWalk. Now, two years later, I am co-chairing the 2011 Jacksonville VisionWalk and am so excited to spread the mission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness to Jacksonville and to do my part to help raise critical funds to drive the research that will save my sight and possibly the sight of future generations of my family.

The Foundation Fighting Blindness has funded more than $300 million dollars of research to find a cure for Retinitis Pigmentosa, Macular Degeneration, LCA and several other related diseases. Of that, VisionWalk’s around the country have raised over $11 million.

In Jacksonville, we have contributed over $90k towards a cure. This year, our goal is set at $60,000. It will take corporate contributions, individual donations and smaller fundraising efforts like this photo series to achieve, and hopefully beat, our goal. I cannot wait to have my disease progression slowed, stopped or even reversed. I cannot wait to drive a car. I cannot wait to eliminate the fear of passing this on to my children one day.

Megan's strength and determination is inspiring, courageous and so encouraging for not only those who share her disease but for all of us who need to be able to see past the "obstacles" that block our hopes and dreams- and instead turn them into assets that will help make what we are striving for become a reality! I am so excited to be working with Megan and you will definitely be hearing more about the upcoming VisionWalk events and the people who's lives are touched. Stay tuned on how together we can help Megan in her efforts to achieve her beautiful vision!

Megan, thank you for inviting me to be a part of such a wonderful cause and for your friendship- I am looking forward to our fun and creative projects together and more playtime with O'Malley!