Gift of sight: Crowdfunding campaign helps Brisbane boy see clearly for first time
Max Geoghegan's life has dramatically changed during the past week.
Thanks largely to the generosity of strangers, his vision has improved five-fold after he received a special pair of glasses. The technology has made his animal-inspired dream possible.
Due to his condition, albinism, Max Geoghegan, 7, can't see things at a distance.
Photo: Robert ShakespeareThe seven-year-old Brisbane boy is one of about 1000 Australians affected by the rare genetic condition, albinism. In his case, it means he cannot see things at distance.
Max used to sit a matter of centimetres away from the television to be able to see what was on the screen, while the rest of his family sat behind him on the couch.
He also loved the tigers at Dreamworld, but sadly they have never been more than a blur in the distance through his eyes.
Max can't wait to fulfil his dream to see tigers at Dreamworld clearly.
Photo: SuppliedHowever, thanks largely to the kindness of strangers, a GoFundMe campaign helped to raise the money needed to pay for a pair of eSight glasses.
This life-changing technology contains a high-quality camera which projects the wearer's view onto two small screens in front of the person's eyes, through a live video feed.
Max has become the first Queenslander to own a pair of eSight glasses and one of the youngest recipients in the country.
He had previously visited the Royal Society for the Blind in Adelaide and been able to test the glasses, but only experienced clear vision for a few minutes before he handed the glasses back.
Miranda Geoghegan, Max's mother, said her son had been able to watch television with the rest of the family on the couch as well as visit an RSPCA shelter and see all of the animals clearly.
"The moment Max realised he was taking eSight home he was over the moon and so happy," she said.
"He was usually right in front of the TV and we were watching around him.
"But that night we put the TV on and watched as a family.
Max Geoghegan, the first Queenslander to receive a pair of eSight glasses.
"I just watchied him watching the TV with us ... it’s the little things."
His family were planning to visit Dreamworld in April so Max could fulfil his dream of seeing the tiger show as more than just a blur in the distance.
Morning & Afternoon Newsletter
Delivered Mon–Fri.