Thank You, Friends

Craig and Judy Hauger

Thank you for your support to Foundation Fighting Blindness through the Arizona Vision Walk and Team Ashley! Because of you we were able to raise almost $30,000 for research for retinal diseases (RP, macular degeneration, Usher Syndrome) and have the largest walking team for a fundraiser in the United States! No words can adequately thank you for your part in this!

With our daughter Ashley’s permission, we wanted to share her words with you:

“As many of you know, I have Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) caused by Usher Syndrome II. RP causes the cones and rods in my retina to deteriorate and die. It affects my middle-periphery most, leaving my central vision intact, though narrowing over time. Usher Syndrome II is a mutation found in my DNA, which is marked by a steady hearing loss (meaning it doesn’t change) and RP which progressively worsens. Currently, there is no cure for either.”

“The hearing loss does not have as much of an effect on me, as I was born with it. I’ve never known life without it, so I’m not missing it.”

“The vision loss is much more difficult to accept. It likely began in my late teens, but was unnoticed until I was in my 20’s, as it is a slow progression. Some of the changes that I have noticed are difficulty in seeing at night/in the dark, objects in my periphery (leading to run-ins and tripping) and difficulty tracking others’ movements in close proximity (not seeing when someone is handing me something). I have been blessed with people who can roll with these moments and laugh them off with me, though sometimes I feel frustrated and humiliated. Because this is something I cannot change or control, I don’t spend much time dwelling on this, but I am hopeful that an effective treatment or cure will be developed in the future!”

Thank you for all you do to help in our mission to find a cure for Ashley and millions of others like her who are affected with these degenerative retinal eye diseases. Team Ashley rocks!