Meet Lauren and Chris, a couple who got engaged on a day that marked not just the beginning of their life together but also the revelation of a beautiful surprise.
"We got engaged on the same day we found out we were pregnant," Lauren said.
Eddy is now five months old, and the couple is eagerly anticipating their wedding in February 2024, with Eddy and their beloved whippet as special guests.
Their journey took an unexpected turn when Eddy's visual challenges became apparent at just two weeks old. His eyes looked cloudy, and his pupils lacked definition. This led them to discover that Eddy was born blind with a diagnosis of bilateral retinal detachment.
It was a shock, as there was no history of blindness or low vision in their family.
Support from family and friends is crucial, and they’ve recently found Vision Australia through searching the internet.
They also registered for Vision Australia’s Santa Fun Run, which became a platform to share Eddy's story and diagnosis, bringing a sense of relief and support from their community.
“Signing up and fundraising has really helped us, especially if I am having a bad day, I go and look at people’s nice messages on my fundraising page or people message me to say they are going to join us” Lauren explained.
Lauren is excited about becoming a Vision Australia client and using services like the Feelix Library with Eddy, referencing the special braille and tactile storybook kits.
"I love how they do the little story boxes that children can borrow with props. I work in childcare, and I think that's a great thing, everyone loves reading," she explains.
As the festive season approaches, Lauren, Chris, and Eddy are focusing on what truly matters—spending time together.
"It’s his first Christmas, it’s different to a lot of other kids first Christmases, but we are going to enjoy it. We are going to let him feel the Christmas tree, give him a present that he can feel and enjoy, and hopefully he can eat some Christmas food! Christmas when you think about it is a very sensory celebration,” Lauren said.
To those considering supporting Vision Australia, Lauren has a heartfelt message.
"Sign up, it's raising money for a good cause. Children who are blind or have low vision need support. They should be treated equally as every other child and not get left behind."
Lauren and ‘Eddy’s Eagles’ have raised over $2,500 for Vision Australia’s Life Ready program to help support more children like Eddy. Please join Lauren for Vision Australia’s Santa Fun Run by registering at visionaustralia.org/santafunrun
If you would like to help support children like Eddy please donate here.