She's Blind But NOW She Can See

My sister, Ellie White, suffers from a rare genetic disorder called Wolfram syndrome. The disorder is progressive and even with the best glasses she is legally blind. She can't see as she used too. I have the bravest sister and can't imagine what she's gone through. Her 16th birthday is very near and she can't get her driver's license because she is legally blind. She is about to be a Senior in high school and had high hopes for college, like medical school, she was hoping to go to Harvard or Oxford. She's only 15 and going to be a Senior. She is incredibly smart, but was dragged down in education due to the disease. Her vision got so bad that she was forced to change her dreams and decided that she wants to go to Law School in state to stay nearby so we can help care for her. I know that Ellie works really hard but she also donates a lot of her time and money towards the Ellie White Foundation to find a cure for her and the other kids with this disorder. Ever since she was 5 she has asked for people to not give her presents for her birthday and instead donate for a cure, so I know she would never ask for this herself. And so when we were recently on a fundraising trip I was thrilled to see Ellie actually enjoy herself because for the first time in years she could see due to VR - a new incredible technology that brings the world to Ellie's eyes. I never knew my sister was afraid of heights because when we were up high she never seemed scared as she always wants to climb up cliffs and go cliff diving. Now I just learned due to the VR that she wasn't scared because her vision was so poor she couldn't see how high we really were. Because with the VR she was able to see that she was on a plank on the top of a skyscraper. Since she was able to finally see, she was very afraid. She looked down and saw that she was really high. She then went into a virtual lab where she proceeded to pursue her dreams at being a scientist, but she could actually see it. I invision Ellie Not only Being able to experience the fun of a virtual world but also to give her the opportunity to enhance her education. My goal is to raise enough money to get her a VR system and allow her to experience this again at her home-to allow my blind sister to see again! I have done extensive research about VR and they are building by the day on virtual education and I hope it would allow for Ellie to learn more visual things that might be difficult for someone who is blind. Like geometry, genetic engineering, astronomy, micro biology and so many other things she normally can't experience due to her blindness. All money raised over the cost of the system will be donated to the Ellie White Foundation for rare genetic disorders (my sisters 501c3 foundation dedicated to finding a cure for wolfram syndrome for everyone). Help my blind sister see again!!!
  • Lisa Cohen 
    • $25 
    • 54 mos
  • Brian Birch 
    • $15 
    • 55 mos
  • Christa Rheindt 
    • $25 
    • 55 mos
  • Lenny Brewsko 
    • $25 
    • 55 mos
  • Hudson Family 
    • $50 
    • 57 mos
See all

Organizer and beneficiary

Ryan White 
Colorado, CO
Beth White