Orlando-area pitcher, 12, can't miss strike zone he can barely see

Very heartwarming, isn't there any type of surgery that can help?

You have to admire this young mans courage and attitude as well as his skill. Although it will be heartbreaking when he loses his sight, I am sure that he will overcome the disability and throw strikes in life!

I do not believe there is a surgery that will correct this, nit even a transplant.

Go Brendan! You are a winner!

I work with a Low Vision Support group at Good Samaritan Society - Kissimmee Village, so I do know exactly what a marvelous feat of courage and skill this is. I also am a sometime volunteer with Lighthouse Central Florida, a wonderful organization with almost unlimited resources for the visually impaired. There is a certified Low Vision Specialist whose office is located at that facility also. I do hope the parents have been in touch with these valuable resources. If not, they should run - not walk - to the phone and call them before any more time passes.

I am so glad his parents are allowing him to act just like any other boy his age instead of sheltering him. It's so sad to hear that he will eventually lose his sight altogether.

Wonderful story, thanks for sharing it with us!

An accident waiting to happen!!

I can appreciate all of your responses although most will be positive I expect the ones that would never allow one of their kids to do the same. We have had Brendan to every eye specialist in the state and even to Bascom/Palmer in miami, the premier eye clinic in the world and all of the diagnosis are the same there is no cure for his type of macular degeneration / rod cone dystrophy and I will allow him to be a normal boy as long as it is what he wants to do and as long as he is able thanks

This the gratifying things in life that alot of us take for granted. This young mans desire to be a child and the best at what he does should be an inspiration to ALL. Hats off to Brad for giving his son the opportunity to be a kid knowing what lies ahead. Hopefully by this time in Medical Technology we can have a Solution for this type of Disease.
God Bless ones Like Brad and Brendan.

Hats off to you 2 and others like them.

Regards

Stories about young kids with disease don't normally upset me like they do some people but there's something about Brendan's story that leaves me speechless. He's such a brave and resolute boy that you just wish something, somehow, may come about in the future—some medical advancement—which will better his vision.

I say let him play as long as he can play. He's enjoying this, so don't take it away from him.

Dear Mr. Bob B.
I am Brenden's aunt. Your comment I'm sure comes from not wanting anyone to get hurt. I wish you would take the time to go see him play a game. It would warm your heart to see this wonderful boy doing something that he truly LOVES. If you were in his position or my brothers I'm sure you would feel different. If you knew that in your life you would not be able to do something ever again, something that you truly loved to do. Wouldn't you want to spend as much time doing that thing that makes you happy? Before you could NEVER do it again. My nephew is the happiest person you will ever meet. Go see him play. It will change your mind.

Bob B wrote:

An accident waiting to happen!!

And so what if it is? He seems to know the risks he's taking and he loves playing baseball. Would it really be better to cloister him away indoors?

I coached youth soccer for two years and I can tell you right now as a coach if confronted with a situation like this one I would want him to play and I would make clear to his team-mates and the coaches of teams we played against how important it is for him not to be injured but I certainly would let the kid play. People, especially kids, who suffer a disease or disability do not want to be excluded from things they and their peers enjoy, and in general, such exclusion is psychological probably worse for them than any risks they take in such activities.

That is just amazing!!

A lot of people could learn a lot from this preteen boy. Take what life throws at you and don't let it keep you from becoming all that you can.

God Bless ya and maybe somewhere in the future they may come up with a corrective surgery or something to help.

Bob B wrote:

An accident waiting to happen!!

My kids are not visually impaired bu they still have accidents, because that's what kids do. Do you think this clearly gifted child should be shut up in the house because "something might happen"? Thank God his parents are not like that. He deserves to do what he loves for as long as he possibly can. Even if his sight leaves him completely (and I say IF because I am holding on to hope), blind children can be amazing. I don't know if this still exists but when I was younger, I used to go to a show called SABAH. It was an iceskating show put on by people who were blind or handicapped. It was wonderful to see these people get out and skate beautifully without being able to see. I can't even stand up on a pair of ice skates. I know this is pretty long winded of me, I just don't believe in stopping a child from following his dreams because of a handicap.

Below is one of many articles that discuss advances in "curing" Brendan's condition.

http://www.wired.com/medtech/genetics/news/20...