Life-changing moment for Jasmine
FUNDRAISERS BUY SPECIAL DEVICE TO HELP TEENAGER KEEP ENJOYING BOOKS
A TEENAGER who is slowly losing her eyesight was given an incredible surprise when she was given the one thing that will change her life.
Jasmine Steele, of Burnopfield, County Durham, suffers from Kabuki Syndrome, which causes development delay and has total retinal detachment in one eye.
One of her favourite things to do is read, but sadly Jasmine’s eyesight has degenerated massively over the past three years and she can no longer read.
The 18-year-old wanted a special machine – a Connect 12 electronic magnifier, produced by Humanware – which would allow her to read again.
But it costs thousands of pounds and was too expensive to buy.
Now, though, thanks to the fundraising efforts of her teacher and charity Smile For Life, they were able to raise enough cash to purchase the device for her.
Jasmine, who is a student at Percy Hedley School, in Killingworth, was given a huge surprise when it was presented to her.
Asked how she felt receiving it, she said: “Fantastic – I thought it was coming in September time.”
Now Jasmine says she’s looking forward to reading her favourite book – the X Factor 2009 manual.
“I like reading more about the contestants – Joe McElderry won it,” she said. “[I] got to meet him as well last year.”
Her mum, Glynis, said the machine would help her read more fluently. She said: “It was a struggle because she lost all her sight in what was her good eye and she’s severely sight-impaired in her left eye, she really struggled.”
The teen tried the machine pre- viously and they were amazed by how it helped and they knew they needed to get her it, Glynis said.
“If she’s reading a book, it’s very hard to read the lines and this scrolls the lines one at a time across the screen,” she said. “It just makes it easier for her.”
The machine was bought after funds were raised by Christian Hebron, who raised nearly £1,000 by cycling Coast to Coast and walking Hadrian’s Wall, and charity Smile For Life who sought donations for the machine, with £1,000 received from their partner UNW.
Christian, of Tynemouth, said: “We found this piece equipment which is life-changing, would be life-changing. It is amazing and Jasmine had expressed how she loved reading before and once we used this and practised with this, it has shown how with the help of this equipment she will be able to go on in leaps and bounds.”