“When I found out about Berkshire Vision and all they do, including providing transport for activities, it was life-changing.”
Larrisa and Aleisha, spirited eight-year-old twins, have been on a unique journey since before they were born. Diagnosed with a rare genetic condition coupled with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, they face a range of health challenges every day. Visual impairment, scoliosis, thyroid issues, and a heart condition are only part of what these girls and their mother, Liang, manage daily.
Raising children with these needs has meant navigating countless obstacles, both in accessing care and resources. When they were born, Liang and her husband had no extended family support in the UK, making it incredibly difficult to manage Aleisha’s time in the NICU. Over the years, Liang has sought support wherever possible, but as she puts it, “There wasn’t really anything out there… no one even told us we could get support.”
Discovering Berkshire Vision
It wasn’t until Liang read an article in a newsletter that she discovered Berkshire Vision, a charity dedicated to supporting visually impaired individuals and families like hers. While the girls have had support from a few other charities, none truly met the family’s unique needs. “I don’t drive,” Liang explains, “and my husband works full-time. I’m on my own with two disabled children. When I found out about Berkshire Vision and all they do, including providing transport for activities, it was life-changing.”
Berkshire Vision offer transport for activities and events, enabling Liang to bring her girls to outings and support groups with a sense of security. “I never worry if I am with Berkshire Vision,” she says, recognising how crucial these moments of community are, especially when she often feels isolated.
The Difference Berkshire Vision Makes
For the twins, Berkshire Vision is more than a charity—it’s a chance to experience life beyond their day-to-day limitations. The girls have had transformative experiences ice skating, on boat rides, and in animal therapy sessions. “Ice skating was life-changing,” says Liang, “I didn’t know I could even take the girls. And now, thanks to Berkshire Vision, I have the confidence to try things on my own, even take them to other rinks in Oxford or Basingstoke.”
Activities like these bring a lightness and sense of possibility into Larrisa and Aleshia’s lives. However, these experiences aren’t just memorable; they are essential for the girls’ social and cognitive development, offering new sensory experiences that foster their curiosity and happiness. For Liang, these experiences are invaluable, allowing her daughters to engage and explore the world in ways they would otherwise miss out on.
Berkshire Vision is the lifeline that keeps families like Liang’s connected and supported. Without this vital resource, countless individuals facing similar challenges would miss out on transformative opportunities that make their lives brighter and more fulfilling.