ASHLAND — Five children who have visual impairment diagnoses made a lasting visual memory by taking to the sky in a hot air balloon on Saturday evening.
The Visual Bucket List Foundation put on the event to give those children and their families a chance to see something they will never forget.
Each kid rode in a hot air balloon provided by Ashland Balloon Rides for a few minutes. The balloon was tethered to the ground at Freer Field.
This was the first time the Visual Bucket List hosted Eyes in the Sky, but operations and special events director Jess Berry said she wants it to become a bi-annual event.
“It’s a community event to share the beautiful things that we have been able to accomplish for these children and their families,” Berry said.
In addition to the balloons in the sky, the event featured a face-painter, balloon artist, bounce houses, yard games and food trucks.
The Visual Bucket List is a nonprofit organization that began nearly 10 years ago when co-founders Christine and Steve Myers’s daughter, Lizzy, was diagnosed with mild to moderate bilateral sensorial hearing loss at 3 years old.
When she was 5, the Myers found out Lizzy had Usher Syndrome Type 2A: a genetic disorder that causes hearing loss at birth and can lead to gradual vision loss. There is not yet a cure for Usher Syndrome.
The family quickly made a “visual bucket list” of things for Lizzy to see before she went fully blind. During this journey, the Mansfield News Journal wrote an article about Lizzy that quickly gained national attention.
Turkish Airlines saw the story and offered to fly the family anywhere they wanted to go. The Myers chose Rome, Italy, which included a trip to Vatican City where Pope Francis blessed Lizzy’s eyes and ears.
Christine said she felt guilty after the trip because not all kids with conditions similar to Lizzy’s get to experience the world like they did.
Now, after nearly 10 years since the organization began, The Myers have granted 22 wishes.
“I love being able to bless the families,” Christine said.
Those wishes included trips to New York City, snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef, a Disney World vacation and more.
And Peter Heath, who was one of the children to ride in the hot air balloon, received his wish last summer: a train-themed park in his hometown of Loudonville.
Beth Heath, Peter’s mom, said they go to the park a couple of times a week.
“Just because you’re blind does not mean you can’t do stuff,” Beth said.
Peter has batten disease, a rare genetic condition that impacts the structure and function of cells. The disease progressively gets worse as children get older, leading to vision loss, seizures, cognitive problems and eventually early death.
But Peter’s condition does not stop him from doing the things he loves, such as zip lining, playing the electric guitar and building creations with legos.
Peter was the first kid to ride in the hot air balloon. He bounced his way to the step ladder — his way of showing his excitement.
And after he stepped back on the grass, he could not contain his smile. “It was awesome,” he said.
