It’s been a long while since I have talked about Avery’s vision on this blog.  Avery’s low vision is a part of her daily life, our daily life, and it is simply our norm.  At eight years old, she’s proven that her low vision is not going to hold her back in life. Will there be challenges in life? Yes, of course.  But everyone has challenges in life, low vision or not and what matters is how a person perseveres in the face of obstacles.

When Avery was a baby and first diagnosed with cataracts, nystagumus, microthalmia, low vision….Justin and I had the conversation of our future home.  Did we need to purchase a one-level home so Avery could better navigate? There was so much we didn’t know!

Today we took the girls on their first legit hike.  We went on the Appalachian Trail in Bluemont, VA.  It was rocky, very rocky and steep in some sections.  We were two minutes into the hike when she face planted hard….she didn’t see a branch to the side of the trail; her foot hit it at and she totally face planted.  She bounced right up, brushing herself off, and crying, but she was okay.  The hike was hard for her.  But she was brave.  With the help of Justin and I, she hiked holding Justin’s hand or my hand on much of the non-level terrain.  She identified sections that were harder for her, sometimes due to the light and how it was shining on the rocks through the trees.  Her sisters were always ahead of her on their own.  Yet Avery never lets that bother her.  Low vision is her norm.

That one level house…she told us!  She continues to show us her abilities.  She teaches herself, she teaches others, she teaches us.  

She perseveres.