Kevin's life took an unexpected turn when he lost his sight at the young age of 17. Up until that point, he was a typical teenager looking forward to the future. But in a single moment, his entire world went dark. It all started when Kevin began having vision problems and stopped growing normally in high school. Concerned, his parents took him to see a new doctor who ordered an MRI. The results showed a shocking discovery - Kevin had a brain tumor. The news came as a complete shock to Kevin and his family. After reeling from the initial diagnosis, he was referred to a top pediatric neurosurgeon who reassured them the tumor could be removed. Kevin even named the plum-sized tumor Bob as a way to cope with its daunting presence in his brain. On the day of the surgery, Kevin and his family went in feeling confident this was a routine procedure. The neurosurgeon would remove Bob and Kevin would be back to his normal routine in no time. Tragically, that was not to be. When Kevin awoke, the world was completely dark. The surgery had left him totally blind. For Kevin, those first few weeks of blindness were incredibly difficult. He felt trapped in a dark world, yearning for the sights he had always taken for granted. Simple tasks like walking across a room became intimidating challenges. The sadness and despair threatened to overwhelm him. Over time, Kevin learned to adapt to his new reality. With the help of braille and assistive technology, he found ways to navigate the world. After years of practice, he honed his senses of hearing, touch, and smell to gain more awareness of his surroundings. He came to realize that his blindness allowed him to experience the world in a unique way. A major turning point came in 2017 when a friend told Kevin about a blind man named Brian Bushway who used echolocation to "see." Intrigued, Kevin booked a training session with Brian to learn this skill. The first two days were frustrating as Kevin tried clicking his tongue and interpreting the echoes. But on the third day, something amazing happened. As he clicked, Kevin perceived the fuzzy gray wall of the apartment. And for the first time in 14 years, he could sense the dark opening of a doorway. Kevin was overjoyed. Calling his mother and sister, he shared the incredible news that he could see again in this way. His mother cried tears of joy to know her son's world was opening back up. Echolocation allowed Kevin to perceive his surroundings based on sound in a way he never thought possible. Losing his sight so abruptly at a young age shaped Kevin into the inspirational man he is today. His positive mindset in the face of such adversity is nothing short of remarkable. He draws strength from his unshakeable faith and his loving family. Kevin's story serves as a powerful reminder that we all have gifts to share with the world, no matter what challenges we face. Though his eyes cannot see, his heart and mind continue to enrich the lives of all who know him.
Check out the full version of Episode 112 here.
