A Family's Journey

How Far Would You Go To Help Your Child?

Read This Letter From Mona, a Perkins Parent

"I just wanted to thank Perkins for saving our family.  Over the years we have had to make incredibly difficult decisions that have moved us across the country and even separated our family for long periods.  At times we felt lost in an uphill battle.  But today, our fourteen-year-old son Omar is thriving because of the help and support received from Perkins.

My family’s story begins the day Omar was born.

Nothing can prepare a mother for the news that her first born is blind—the somber face of a doctor, the nurses unable to look you in the eye, the uncontrollable tears, the bitterness—the entire world darker and sadder.

There were many difficult days.  It wasn’t long before we realized how Omar’s visual impairments would make everything more complicated: learning to speak, to eat, to walk, to play with other children.

I knew that things would not be easy for him.  And to tell you the truth, sometimes that realization felt as if it would break my heart.

But eventually I realized I had to give my son the best chance to succeed in an unfair world.  It wasn’t long before I found myself fighting to do just that.

When Omar was three years old, we were living in Houston, Texas.  He was enrolled in a state program for children with special needs.  Unfortunately, I was very disappointed with the services they were providing him.

The easy thing to do would have been to accept that was the best he could get.  But I could not accept the status quo, so I began weeks of research and countless phone calls to find the best place in the world that could help him.

All that research led us to Perkins. When we toured the school, I immediately noticed the small class size.  I was amazed by the range of services Perkins offered: help with mobility, speech, eating, music and art classes, playrooms designed to encourage sensory development, and so much more than I imagined possible.

Most importantly, I felt we could become part of the Perkins family.  I trusted the staff with my son, not just because they were experts, but because they were so kind. I could see that like my husband and me, you genuinely wanted what was best for Omar.

I went back to Texas knowing we had to make a heart wrenching decision. My husband’s business could not be relocated, so he stayed in Houston while Omar and I moved across the country to Watertown, Mass.  We looked forward to my husband’s visits every weekend, but it was harder than you can imagine separating our family.

That was nine years ago, and I have never looked back! Today, I can say it was worth the struggle because at Perkins, Omar has flourished. Every day, his teachers help him move closer to independence.

Accomplishments that seemed impossible a few years ago are things he is able to do today.  Putting on his own coat. Learning to operate a brailler.  Using a cane to navigate his world. And most recently, exploring the world of music by playing the piano and preparing for the Perkins spring recital.

Perkins truly saved our family.  We know we made the right decision for Omar.  We owe so much to the school, its staff, and those who make all of your programs possible. Thank you for everything you have done for us."

Mona