When 48-year-old Mary Sedgwick was diagnosed as being legally blind back in 2003, she likely thought that she would never be able to see the face of her loved ones again. However, thanks to advances in medical science, this was not the case!
When 48-year-old Mary Sedgwick was diagnosed as being legally blind back in 2003, she likely thought that she would never be able to see the face of her loved ones again. However, thanks to advances in medical science, this was not the case!
She was ultimately diagnosed with bilateral optic neuritis. This meant that during her residency as an aspiring doctor, Ms. Sedgwick suffered from dizziness, double vision, and eye pain.
This meant that her dreams of becoming a practicing doctor had to be put on hold. She attended North Carolina Vocational School for the Blind, where she learned how to read braille and other life skills that are critical for the blind.
Her life really turned around, however, when she received her guide dog.
On her website, Mary wrote, "I would not be as mobile, confident or free to enjoy the life I do have without her."
The pair are near inseparable, and recently, Mary was granted the ability to see her furry friend for the first time ever!
She explained the way that this fancy pair of eye-wear work: "The glasses house a high-speed, high-definition camera that captures everything you’re looking at and shows it on two, near-to-your-eye displays.
"Medical algorithms enhance the footage so you can see in real-time. These glasses restored some of my remaining residual vision."
Using the pioneering glasses, Mary was able to see the face of her beloved Lucy for the first time.
In an interview with ABC, Mary described how the experience made her feel.
"I just, I could believe how amazing, beautiful, and soulful eyes she has," she said. "It was everything that I had dreamed she had looked like. The love in her eyes matched the love that I knew for eight years now."
It shows Mary becoming overwhelmed with emotion by the moment, and breaking down into tears as she embraces her sweet pup.
She can be heard saying, "Oh God, Lucy, you got the most beautiful eyes, Lucy."
One pair can cost around $10, 000, so they're definitely a pricey purchase. But they're also a worthwhile investment that will make a blind person's life infinitely more enjoyable.
Mary has since managed to raise the money required, and now devotes her time trying to spread the gift of sight to others who are in need. She has continued to fundraise for other blind people in need to own their own pair of eSight glasses.
You can donate to Mary's campaign on her website.
So far, the campaign has managed to get a pair of the glasses for another fortunate person, and Mary is hoping to help more in the future.
Below, you can watch the truly touching video of Mary seeing Lucy for the first time.
It's difficult to imagine not being able to see the faces of those we love most in the world, but that's the reality that blind people must face. Anything that can be done to help this kind of wonderful technology be more readily available to people is a fantastic cause to get behind.
h/t: ABC