From crawling to walking and even riding a bike, the 16-month-old is achieving big milestones with the help of Beyond Blindness.
“He is a gift,” says Susan Drochner about her grandson Owen, who just turned 16 months in May.
At birth, Owen had the tell-tale signs of coloboma in both eyes, a condition where missing tissue created keyhole-shaped pupils and vision loss. Despite early indications, the right tests were not done immediately. Frustrated, his family took matters into their own hands to ensure he was receiving a correct diagnosis and the best possible care.
Susan was willing to go anywhere for Owen — but luckily, the answer came a bit closer to home. “You have to call Beyond Blindness,” she was told by an older woman who was also blind. “That is where Owen belongs.”
At Beyond Blindness, Owen receives more than just physical therapy, occupational therapy, and early intervention services. He and his family have also found a community and support that helps them cope with a challenging journey. “Everyone there is so kind, helpful, and knowledgeable. They will do anything for Owen,” Susan says.
In addition to working with Early Intervention Specialist Margaret since he was four months old, Owen is enrolled in a Beyond Blindness classroom and attends Learning Link sessions where he is thriving as he plays with sensory music and light-up toys. He’s also learning to interact with other kids in his class with the encouragement of teachers, who create a fun, engaging environment for children of all abilities to develop their social skills.
Over the last year, Owen has grown from a tiny infant to a toddler on the go, he’s reached important milestones, including walking and even riding a bike. “There was so much joy in his face when he started to walk. He is so proud to walk from our truck into the Beyond Blindness classroom,” Susan says. “He cannot wait to get into Margaret’s door!”
He’s also learning to crawl and navigate steps with the little vision he does have, which is a critical skill that will translate to his life at home since he has a porch with two steps. The team is currently focused on improving his core muscle strength to enhance his balance, as well as working on his depth perception and peripheral vision.
Though the road from birth to diagnosis to achieving these milestones was not without challenges, Susan has leaned on her faith through it all to support Owen through his journey.
“There are no glasses or surgeries that will help his condition. We accept that we have Owen for who he is and as he is. The only thing we can do is teach and encourage him. I also pray a lot for Owen,” she says.
She appreciates how Beyond Blindness has encouraged and given him so much confidence to succeed in the classroom and at home. Friends and family are astonished by how much his vision has improved since he first came to Beyond Blindness. Each new skill he learns brings an immense amount of joy and pride to the whole family.
“Every day gets easier,” Susan says. “But the most exciting part is looking into your child’s eyes and hoping that they will acknowledge you through any vision they have. When he smiled, it was all I wanted.”