52-year-old Lawrence Harrison is proud of his many accomplishments. The most important to him is never losing sight of his passion after losing part of his vision to glaucoma.

Having served four years in the Navy, Lawrence traveled to many parts of the world, including Italy and Africa. He worked as a seaman and later began doing photography for the Navy. Art had always been a passion of his, so when the opportunity presented itself to do photography for the Navy, Lawrence took it with no questions! “I’ve been passionate about art work and photography since high school,” says Lawrence.

Upon completion of his military service, Lawrence began to work as a stylist, as well as continuing to do photography, art work and odd jobs on the side. Ten years ago, Lawrence was diagnosed with glaucoma. “I did not go to the doctor regularly to get my eyes checked as I should have been. The diagnosis was a shock to me,” says Lawrence. Due to the combination of glaucoma and a head injury, Lawrence lost his hearing as well as the sight in his right eye. He has tunnel vision in his left eye and uses an aid to help with his hearing. “It can be a frightening thing to lose your senses,” recalls Lawrence.

“You can overcome anything in life as long as you learn how to get the help you need,” says Larry Brown. Born and raised in Harlem, NY, Larry found himself relocating to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area a year after being diagnosed with Glaucoma in 2007.

In today’s busy world, it is often hard to find time to reflect on how difficult situations in our lives can be blessings in disguise.  For 35-year-old Natina English, this statement holds true. Natina was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, also known as Juvenile Diabetes, at age eleven and in March of 2006 found herself facing a diagnosis of Diabetic Retinopathy.

Often in life we experience knock downs and set backs that we must overcome. Having boxed for the Boys and Girls Club for 14 years, no one understands this concept better than Larry Williams. Born in Southeast, Washington, D.C., Larry experienced much success in his boxing career. He owned his own boxing gym, was presented with the local Golden Glove Award, traveled the world meeting a variety of people and, most notably, was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992 by Sugar Ray Leonard!

The smiling face passing you in the hallway, the person cracking jokes with you on public transit, the lady that always has an encouraging word - that’s Twanda Lee!  Twanda feels a sense of fulfillment when she lifts up other people and is always upbeat and ready to spread joy.  “You never know what load someone is carrying and how a simple smile could make a difference,” says Twanda.  Judging from her attitude and outlook on life, you would never know the many personal tragedies she has endured.  Having recently lost her husband of 20 years, her mother and a son, Twanda knows all about tribulations.  In addition to these personal challenges, two years ago this month, cerebral tumors on her brain left Twanda with no vision in one eye and only 10% vision in the other eye.  Determined not to participate in any “pity parties” for herself, Twanda contacted the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB) for assistance.

In some cases, what defines a person is how they react to the cards they are dealt in life. Some choose to play their hand, while others opt to throw in their cards and become victims of circumstance. When dealt a new set of cards last November, Glenda Austin knew throwing in her hand was not an option. After contracting meningitis from a child care center, Glenda was hospitalized for nearly two weeks and eventually lost her sight due to complications of meningitis. “I had so many questions and struggled with accepting my condition at first. You can even say I was disgusted by it all. I contemplated if I could press on. That contemplation soon turned into determination,” said Glenda.