This Is Awesome: Students Give Gift Of Sight To Legally Blind Classmate

March 23, 2018

“This is awesome.”

Beulah Academy of Science Middle School gave eighth grader Noah Anderson an awesome gift Thursday afternoon — the gift of sight.

Noah was born with albinism which causes loss of eyesight. He is now legally blind.

So Noah’s classmates raised nearly $10,000 in just a few weeks to purchase a special pair of eSight glasses to allow him too see clearly again. The life-changing technology uses a high quality camera to projects a live feed onto two small screens in front of the wearer’s eyes.

As time came to try the glasses for the very first time, Noah showed obvious excitement.

“Here we go!” he exclaimed. As the glasses “booted up”, he read from the video screens inside the glasses.

“Esight is not for driving or other potentially dangerous,” he said to a room full of  laughter.

But then for just a moment, Noah was silent as his mouth dropped open.

“I see faces!” he screamed, looking around the room.

Then he turned to his mom. “Hey baby,” she said as he looked into her eyes clearly for the first time.

“You look so cool….this is awesome,” Noah said as his mom erupted into tears of joy.

He was able to turn around and tell the time of a wall clock. “This is awesome!”

“Mom, I can see your face,” he said as he looked at his mom again, bringing even more tears to her eyes.”

“Thank you everyone. I appreciate it. I truly do. I truly do. This is so awesome! I just think it is amazing,”

Noah  then set out to tour his school and see his classmates. Classroom after classroom cheered and offered Noah high fives.

“This is awww-some, he said before stopping to read something . Across  the hallway, he went to another class of eighth graders. You guessed it. “This is awecome, this is so awesome!”

Back in the hallway, he turned around and immediately saw his mother.

“Oh hey mom,  this is awesome!”

He might as well have been a rock star…as crowds of students gather to give him more high fives in the hallway.

“I need eSight so I can again begin living life the way it was meant to be lived. I just want to be able to experience the things we all take for granted. To watch a movie with my family and friends, read a book, see the faces of all of you amazing people reading this and thinking about contributing, or to just see my own smile again,” Noah wrote on the eSight fundraising page for the glasses. “All I want it to see the world as it sees me.”

And on Thursday people at Beulah Academy of Science Middle school saw Noah Anderson as awesome. And Noah Anderson saw them.

And that was truly awesome.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

24 Responses to “This Is Awesome: Students Give Gift Of Sight To Legally Blind Classmate”

  1. Jaime on April 2nd, 2018 7:32 am

    This is awesome my son goes to B.A.S and it’s an awesome school and this young man is a very special kid and I’m so glad that he was able to get the special glasses to help him see I remember the live feed my son texted me to watch it and it was awesome

  2. Allforlovekindnessandrespect on March 24th, 2018 11:33 am

    THIS is what I like to read on NorthEscambia!!!!

  3. David on March 24th, 2018 9:35 am

    BEULAH ANGEL SCHOOL. B.A.S.

  4. Citizen on March 24th, 2018 12:48 am

    Sweet. Be kind to one another..yep made my cry too..

  5. John Sykes on March 23rd, 2018 7:51 pm

    Best thing I’ve read all year. Good for you, Noah. I am amazed and humbled at the kindness and generosity of your classmates. Going to have to dust here in my computer room, something keeps getting in my eyes.

  6. Donna Bell on March 23rd, 2018 3:01 pm

    What a heartwarming story! I have a grandchild affected with ocular albinism and I know what a struggle it is in the classroom. So, so so glad Noah can now experience normal vision, especially before he gets into high school. My grandchild graduated last year, but it was a struggle because she couldn’t see the board at the front of the class. She couldn’t see well enough to do a lot of things. She was determined though, and graduated with honors.

    Hopefully the kindness of his classmates will allow Noah a more normal life, maybe even to drive! I am so happy for him.

  7. anne 1of2 on March 23rd, 2018 12:36 pm

    This has to be the story of the year! Noah was definitely brought here by the Lord to teach us how to treat others with kindness!

  8. Ray on March 23rd, 2018 11:42 am

    What a wonderful story so happy for Noah and his family it’s good to know that their are kids and parent’s that care enough to do something like this God Bless each one that had a part in this.

  9. patti on March 23rd, 2018 10:45 am

    I think it’s AWESOME that those students did this for one of their fellow students. It’s amazing what scientist are able to do – making those glasses – and for a young man to be able to SEE, yes it’s AWESOME! I thank GOD for young folks who think of others, and are willing to help one with a disability. In this world of today, it blesses my heart to hear of happenings such as this. I’ll be praying for you, Noah, and your family. God Bless you all.

  10. Tracy on March 23rd, 2018 10:37 am

    We are all so happy for Noah! My son goes to school with him and is friends with him. He is just a normal kid like a the others, my son says, and now he gets to ecoeiance it!

  11. Nod on March 23rd, 2018 10:30 am

    WOW!! BRINGS TEARS OF JOY TO MY EYES. THANK GOD.

  12. molino jim on March 23rd, 2018 9:38 am

    This should help remind all of us that there are so many GOOD young people. We tend to hear about the ones who break into schools and try to destroy every thing they can’t steal. The ball park in Cantonment and the play ground in Atmore are only two cases in point. A GOOD JOB TO ALL who worked on this. Thanks to you also William for making our day brighter.

  13. Alan on March 23rd, 2018 9:35 am

    Way to go Beulah Academy! I know this young man and his Family from Hillcrest. I heard about his glasses two weeks ago in class. So happy for Noah and his family. You have created a huge blessing to them. Looking forward to seeing the family Sunday and seeing Noah’s reactions as he walks around.

  14. Dawn on March 23rd, 2018 9:25 am

    Amazing how these students worked so hard to raise so much money for this young man to be able to see again!!! I know seeing his reaction was priceless!!! Thanks for sharing wonderful news!!

  15. Ginnie on March 23rd, 2018 8:59 am

    So happy for Noah! So proud to be a part of BAS!

  16. Concerned on March 23rd, 2018 8:49 am

    That is a miracle from God. He made someone smart enough to do that. Thank you God.

  17. Molino Mom on March 23rd, 2018 8:24 am

    What a great testament of what our children can do…This made me tear up! We need more of this in the world today. So happy for you Noah, enjoy your new life, you deserve it!

  18. DCP on March 23rd, 2018 8:05 am

    This was such a heartwarming story. THANK YOU FOR SHARING this!! AWESOME! I don’t know this child, but I am crying tears of joy. It’s nice to read GOOD NEWS!!

  19. Jan on March 23rd, 2018 7:43 am

    Great story. Nice to see some super-good news.

  20. just sayin on March 23rd, 2018 7:33 am

    God bless all who had any part in helping this child see.

  21. Willene Bryan on March 23rd, 2018 6:57 am

    Congratulations!! This is wonderful for this child. So happy for you.

  22. Anne on March 23rd, 2018 6:03 am

    Oh My, a Beautiful story of such kindness giving happiness.
    Good Blessings to all who had a part in this.
    WOW!!!!!

  23. Mike Amerson on March 23rd, 2018 5:34 am

    Great story William. As a parent of a son with a severe disability, I can only imagine how this mother felt the first time her son said I can see you now. Also, to the kids and their families that made this possible, my hat is off to all of you. It’s very easy for someone to turn a blind eye to people in need such as this young man. But none of you did that and for that, all of you need to be recognized for the very thoughtful deed you have done for this family. From our family to all of you, thank you very much for helping this family. Mike/Jennifer Amerson

  24. David on March 23rd, 2018 4:47 am

    Amazing little guy…great attitude…so happy for all. “So I can see the world as it sees me” he said it all from the heart…GO NOAH!!!