The priorities of Ben Pierce's family have changed completely, his parents have six children telling him, and of course they continue to serve them all. But a new variable has been introduced for a few months in the Pierce routine: although it is only nine years old, his vision is getting worse and according to doctors, he will end up going blind.
Faced with the expectation, the child seems eager to accumulate different visual experiences, since probably in the not too distant future he will not be able to contemplate Mount Rushmore, the Sistine Chapel, the process of manufacturing candy in a factory, a Northern Lights or one of those New Zealand birds called Kiwis. It all started when Ben was born prematurely, so much so that his eyelids were still fused. They had to undergo laser surgery to avoid retinal detachment, and although the prognosis was unfavorable, the child got ahead and has grown healthy. However, as it grows, the scar tissue is getting worse, and right now you should read with magnifying glass, and receive training in a therapist who teaches braille language and walking with a cane.
This family resides in Dallas (Texas / United States), a big city, although it sure is small when the possibilities of knowing the world visually are being exhausted
The case is that Ben has begun to elaborate a wish list focused on the places you want to visit, and has the support of his brothers who contribute the savings and the money they earn by selling bread and sweets to the neighbors. Parents also want the best for him, but of course with six children traveling anywhere should not be easy.
That is why they have started to raise funds, and have launched another very nice initiative that consists in calling for people send photos or postcards from around the world, the shipping address is reviewed in this post by Mamma Mia. In this way the little one can accumulate memories of the mountains, museums, beaches, buildings, streets, ... that he will have seen in those pieces of trips that will arrive at his house.
It was his therapist who had the idea, since apparently, when Ben grows up, it will be easier for him to describe his surroundings, and interact with the seers, if he has such memories.
At the moment, he has traveled to New York thanks to the journalist Katie Couric, has been able to see Van Gogh's “Starry Night” (at the Museum of Modern Art), and has visited the Statue of Liberty, an enriching experience, no doubt .
