Can you imagine what it’s like to see nothing but a black canvas all your life? That’s what losing your sight would feel like. Still, the eyes are probably the most overworked of the five senses– people use it every second, with the exception of when one is sleeping! So, it comes as no surprise that many folks rely on eyeglasses and contact lenses, especially in the age of smartphones and gadgets.

In the United States alone, about 75% need the help of eye corrective devices, most of which are women. Not only that, but more than 50% of the population have never undergone an eye exam their entire lives!

A Genetic Eye Disease Can Disrupt a Child’s Vision

There are probably a hundred genetic diseases that a child could acquire upon birth, but one of the most unexpected ones is called Stargardt’s Disease. In a nutshell, it’s an eye disorder that would make the afflicted person lose a portion of their vision, meaning they could only see from the sides of their eyes.

More often than not, the disease begins during childhood but could also have a teenage onset. What’s devastating about it is how it can’t be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses. Unfortunately, one man in Colorado suffered this fate at an early age, yet he managed to find a silver lining in his ordeal.

A Seeing Problem

Gene Purdie has lived with Stargardt’s Disease for over fifteen years, but he does his best to lead a typical life as much as possible. A resident of Denver, Colorado, Purdie is what one would call ‘legally blind,’ meaning his eye grade is too high for him to be able to see anything clearly; however, he ‘sees’ by looking at a person or object’s physical outline.

Amidst his misfortune, Purdie still found someone who loves him unconditionally, no matter his physical state. One could say he is exceptionally blessed in this regard!

An Unlikely Love Story

Due to Purdie’s predicament, it’s expected that the couple’s love story would be something very unique – and it was. He met the love of his life, Joy, in the most unusual circumstance by walking past her one day unknowingly. The second time they crossed paths, his wife was bewildered when Purdie didn’t acknowledge her.

Thankfully, Purdie was quick to shed light on his condition, and Joy understood from then on that life with this man would be different. The duo fell in love and exchanged vows not soon after – their chemistry was undeniable, and it’s evident they were meant to be!

Making Extra Effort to Survive

As a married man, Purdie made sure he functioned like any average person, especially when he became a father to a bouncing baby boy whom they christened Lincoln. But despite his efforts, he continued to struggle even with the simplest tasks, like reading from a cookbook – what’s amusing, however, was when his wife revealed Purdie was a budding chef in his own right since he cooks better than her!

For years, the Purdie family enjoyed a relatively stable life and have come to accept that their patriarch’s eye condition was there to stay; however, they saw one TV show that sparked hope for this household.

Watching ‘Rachael Ray’ Changed Their Lives

Who would have thought that an episode of Rachael Ray would be the key behind an event that would change Purdie’s life forever? One boring sunny afternoon sometime in 2015, Joy chanced upon a memorable episode of The Rachael Ray Show, and she was surprised to see the guest was a woman with the same disease as her husband.

But what intrigued her the most was how the woman was given the opportunity to ‘see’ for the very first time with the aid of high-tech electronic specs – Joy realized this might be something her beloved husband could also have!

Calling for a Chance of a Lifetime

Without further thought, Joy immediately reached out to the show and hoped they would at least get back to her and discuss the possibility. If granted, this meant Purdie would finally see her and Lincoln properly – a thought they never considered possible until now.

Luck was on their side as the show’s producers actually responded to Joy’s pleas, and the family was invited as guests to the show. Purdie couldn’t believe something as major as this was happening to him! He shared that he couldn’t wait to see his son and wife, and once he does, it’s a memory that will be etched in their minds for years to come.

The Man Who Could Help

In order to be one step closer to realizing their dream, the crew introduced the Purdie family to Taylor Wright. Serving as a liaison officer for the company that invented the revolutionary gadget called eSight, Wright held the key to ‘restoring’ Purdie’s sight, in a sense.

What made this contraption different from others was it allowed those who had trouble seeing, like someone with Stargardt’s Disease, for instance, to enjoy the gift of sight even for a little while. The glasses were exceptionally innovative, and one would never guess how they worked.

The Magic Behind the Glasses

So, how exactly does a pair of eSight electronic glasses make one ‘see’? Well, technology has come long and far, and the company has somehow created one with a camera installed within that would capture footage from the outside. Basically, wherever the wearer looked, he could take in the view in that direction.

But that’s not all – the images would be enhanced through advanced software, so even if the wearer’s vision were terrible, it would be clear enough to see. The excitement was an understatement as Purdie waited for this moment like no other!

First Look, First Words

There’s a silent debate between which matters more, first words or last words. Truthfully, the meaning would depend entirely on who would say such. For Purdie, he already had that experience with his wife, although he couldn’t see her clearly at the time. In this instance, the words he uttered out of admiration for Joy’s beauty was to say how pretty she looked!

The whole situation was like something out of a movie scene – Purdie was teary-eyed as he gazed upon his family like he never had any eye issues at all. Everyone was emotional, particularly Joy, as she has never seen her husband so happy.

The Audience Was There Too

Purdie stared at Joy and Lincoln for as long as he could, memorizing every detail in their faces. He knew this wasn’t a permanent thing, so he savored it the only way he knew how. But they weren’t the only people in the room – the audience was with him at that pivotal event.

Carefully, Purdie turned his attention towards them and was pleasantly surprised that everyone was cheering! Never in his wildest dreams did he have this many people root and express merriment for him; however, he saw two oddly familiar faces beaming with pride. Who could they be?

Two Special Guests

Shocked but obviously pleased at the surprise, Purdie immediately recognized the lovely grins of his mom and dad, and he broke out into a huge smile – this was undoubtedly the best day of his life! His parents weaved their way toward him, and at this point, everyone was applauding louder than ever!

Purdie felt like a new man reborn and took everything in; he admitted he felt quite overwhelmed but in a good way. Little did he know there was a bigger surprise waiting for him by the end of the show.

A Big Surprise

Everything felt like a dream, and Purdie never thought trying on the hi-tech specs would significantly impact him and his loved ones! However, eSight had a special treat lined up for him that would ultimately alter the way he performs activities of daily living.

As a way to show support, the esteemed company gave Purdie his very own pair of electronic glasses. Now, he doesn’t have to etch the moment in detail – he could do it all over again, whenever he wanted! Indeed, it was the next best thing to having his sight fully restored.

Is the Price Worth It?

Due to its state-of-the-art-features, it’s easy to assume the glasses would cost thousands of dollars – $15,000 to be exact! But price point aside, it’s not just another run-of-the-mill gadget created to scam patients; instead, it is a tool that helped change a man’s life.

The Purdie family stumbled upon this technological breakthrough by accident, and if it weren’t for Joy’s love for daytime TV, she wouldn’t have seen the episode that paved the way for this miracle. In a way, it’s possible that this piece of technology saved his life.

Love Your Eyes and It Will Love You Back

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from this heartwarming story is to consider Gene Purdie’s condition the next time one spends countless hours in front of a laptop or when binge-watching a television show – too much eyestrain won’t do anyone good! In any case, people shouldn’t take their eyesight for granted, especially if there is nothing wrong with them in the first place.

Luckily for Purdie, the appropriate technology was already available at the right place and time. His vision may have been a deal-breaker at some point in his life; however, his future has never looked so bright until today!