Through Our Eyes

Sam didn't expect to leave her daughter's eye appointment with a diagnosis of her own. But three days after bringing her premature daughter home from the NICU (where ROP had already become part of their story), she mentioned some symptoms to the ophthalmologist and was seen an hour later with a detached retina. In this episode, Sam — a special education teacher, mom of three, and the creator behind @MrsChaos212 on social media — shares the honest, funny, and sometimes overwhelming reality of navigating vision challenges as both a parent and a patient. Her message to every parent: when we really listen to our kids, we can advocate for them in life-changing ways. You can find Sam on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube at @MrsChaos212. Want to be a guest on the podcast? If you or someone you know has a story to share — whether you've experienced a pediatric retinal condition yourself or are raising a child who has — we'd love to hear from you. Reach out to us at [email protected]. You can find more episodes and ways to get involved with the Pediatric Retinal Research Foundation here: linktr.ee/throughoureyespodcast

What does it look like to do the research that could one day change outcomes for children with retinal disease? Dr. Michael Risner and Dr. Luis Villa-Diaz can tell you firsthand. Both assistant professors and researchers at the Oakland University Eye Research Center, Dr. Risner and Dr. Villa-Diaz were awarded a pilot grant through PRRF to support their work in pediatric retinal research. In this episode, they pull back the curtain on what life in the lab really looks like, why research takes as long as it does, and what role donor funding plays in keeping that work moving forward. Connect with Dr. Risner at [email protected]. Connect with Dr. Villa-Diaz at [email protected]. Learn more about the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine Eye Research Center (OUWB-ERC): oakland.edu/medicine/research/eye-research-center/ Want to be a guest on the podcast? If you or someone you know has a story to share — whether you've experienced a pediatric retinal condition yourself or are raising a child who has — we'd love to hear from you. Reach out to us at [email protected]. You can find more episodes and ways to get involved with the Pediatric Retinal Research Foundation here: linktr.ee/throughoureyespodcast

Jessica Dail was born weighing one pound, two ounces. She has ROP and her vision fluctuates from day to day. She also holds a job she loves, has a ham radio license, hosts her own podcast, and is writing a book. In this episode, Jessica shares her story, from fighting to learn braille in fourth grade, to building a career in public transportation, to launching Rethinking Blindness, her own podcast platform for the blind and low vision community. Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Jessica's Website: https://jessicadail.com/ Jessica's Email: [email protected] Rethinking Blindness Podcast: https://rethinkingblindness.podbean.com/ SongSight Music Mentoring Retreat: https://songsightretreat.com/ American Council of the Blind (ACB) Radio Amateurs: https://www.acbhams.com/ Want to be a guest on the podcast? If you or someone you know has a story to share — whether you've experienced a pediatric retinal condition yourself or are raising a child who has — we'd love to hear from you. Reach out to us at [email protected]. You can find more episodes and ways to get involved with the Pediatric Retinal Research Foundation here: https://linktr.ee/throughoureyespodcast

In 1998, Carlos T. Reza was a correctional officer in California when he first noticed something was wrong with his vision on the firing range. Within a year, after multiple surgeries and a cornea transplant, he had lost vision in both eyes. In this episode, Carlos sits down with Jeanne McClellan to share what it was really like to navigate vision loss in his early thirties — medically retiring from the prison system, learning to use a cane, picking up braille, and then deciding, with no college experience, that he was going to earn a doctoral degree in psychology. Thirteen years later, he did. Walking across the graduation stage to a standing ovation, Carlos knew he was exactly where he was supposed to be. His message to anyone navigating vision loss is simple: accept it, embrace it, and figure out how to use it to move forward. You cannot finish a race without doing one step at a time. Want to be a guest on the podcast? If you or someone you know has a story to share — whether you've experienced a pediatric retinal condition yourself or are raising a child who has — we'd love to hear from you. Reach out to us at [email protected]. You can find more episodes and ways to get involved with the Pediatric Retinal Research Foundation here: https://linktr.ee/throughoureyespodcast

Accessibility doesn't have to come with a complicated price tag or a steep learning curve. Sometimes the most powerful tools are the simplest ones. In this episode, Dawn Campbell, Chief Operating Officer of the TouchPad Pro Foundation, shares the story behind the BrailleDoodle — a tactile learning device that helps blind and low vision children and adults explore braille and independent learning through touch. And here's a bonus: it doesn't require batteries or an internet connection. Dawn shares how the BrailleDoodle came to life out of a teacher's determination to reach his students during the pandemic, and what happens emotionally when someone picks up a device that lets them create something entirely on their own. This is for parents who have wondered when to introduce tactile learning, educators looking for tools that actually work in a classroom, and families who want to give their child a foundation for independence. To learn more about BrailleDoodle, explore their resources, or get one into your child's hands, visit brailledoodle.org. Want to be a guest on the podcast? If you or someone you know has a story to share — whether you've experienced a pediatric retinal condition yourself or are raising a child who has — we'd love to hear from you. Reach out to us at [email protected]. You can find more episodes and ways to get involved with the Pediatric Retinal Research Foundation here: https://linktr.ee/throughoureyespodcast