Lizzy Myers' parents want to help other children with vision impairment

Mark Caudill
Mansfield News Journal
Lizzy Myers, 7-years-old and Remington Hedrick also 7-years-old, of Shelby play together at Lizzy's Lexington area home Wednesday afternoon.

 

LEXINGTON - The parents of Lizzy Myers, the little girl who may lose her eyesight, saw her story attract international attention.

Because people responded so strongly to the Lexington girl's plight and wanted to help her, she got to make the trip of a lifetime, going to Rome last year and meeting Pope Francis.

Lizzy's parents want to provide similar experiences for other children with visual impairments.

Steve and Christine Myers started the Visual Bucket List Foundation as a way to "pay it forward" for all the kindness they have received. They have applied for nonprofit status.

Lizzy has Usher Syndrome Type 2A, which is characterized by hearing loss from birth and progressive vision loss that begins in adolescence or adulthood.

"We don't expect to see any changes for a few years," Steve Myers said. 

Lizzy's parents have not told her about her condition. Her first story in the News Journal documented her visit to the Warren Rupp Observatory in the summer of 2015.

Turkish Airlines later offered to pay for round-trip tickets for the family to go anywhere in the world. They chose Rome.

"It just kind of snowballed," Christine Myers said. "We were shocked."

Steve said he turned down Turkish Airlines three times before agreeing to the offer. 

"It took off, especially when the folks from Rome found out," he said. "They kind of adopted Lizzy."

The Myers family hopes for similar success with their foundation. They already have their first subject, 7-year-old Reminington Hedrick, of Shelby. She is Lizzy's second-grade classmate at St. Peter's.

"After such a great experience, we decided we wanted to help others," Christine said.

Remington is the daughter of Shane and Amber Hedrick. She ran into trouble at the age of 7 weeks with "uncontrollable eye movement." She was diagnosed with nystagmus, often involuntary eye movement acquired in infancy or later in life that may result in reduced or limited vision.

Remington Hedrick

 

Amber Hedrick said the diagnosis was a blessing.

"It saved her life," Amber said of her daughter. "She was septic, and we didn't know."

Remington had her first eye surgery at 7 months and a second at 18 months. She also has a form of retinal dystrophy. 

Some doctors predicted she would go blind, but she is seeing better than she should at this point, her parents said.

"You think you've used up your miracle, but they keep coming," Amber said.

Amber and Shane say they have tried not to make Remington feel different, though she has started asking questions.

She asked her parents if she would be able to drive. They said they didn't know.

Remington had a heartbreaking response.

"She said, 'If I don't drive, how am I going to get my kids to school?'"

Remington wears dark glasses that let in as little light as possible. She also uses a cane because she doesn't have depth perception. She will eventually get a guide dog.

Remington is legally blind; her vision is 20/280. With a pair of eSight glasses, it would improve to 20/80.

That is where the Visual Bucket List Foundation comes in. The foundation has raised $2,300 so far; the goal is $10,000.

"These glasses would provide a lifetime of visual memories," Christine Myers said. 

The Visual Bucket List Foundation is hosting Paint for a Cause from 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Knights of Columbus, 1114 Park Avenue West.

People will get to paint on a slate with artist Ryan Failor. The cost is $35 to register in advance. Those who can't attend also can make donations at any Richland Bank.

"Anything we get over, that goes to the foundation for the next child," Christine said.

The Hedricks can't wait for Remington to have improved sight.

"She's going to try to experience everything she can as soon as she can," Shane said.

Amber said Remington "loves, loves" animals, as well as life.

"She will find the joy in pretty much anything," Amber said.

That's the whole point of the Visual Bucket List Foundation.

"I hope 20 or 30 years from now, we've helped hundreds," Steve Myers said.

mcaudill@gannett.com

419-521-7219

Twitter: @MNJCaudill

 

If you go:

What: Visual Bucket List Foundation fundraising event, Paint for a Cause

When: 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 17

Where: Knights of Columbus, 1114 Park Avenue West

Cost: $35 in advance

To sign up: Go to www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-visual-bucket-list-paint-party-tickets-36792001868 or http://tinyurl.com/y8h3tmam. 

Details: Call Christine Myers at 419-884-7327 or visit visualbucketlistfoundation@gmail.com.