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Help Alexis See World Be4 Blindness

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Hello,

(UPDATE: Donate a minimum of $5.00 in your child's or a name and get an extra special shoutout!)

I'm Stef Michaels, better known to the world as the travel expert "Adventure Girl." 

I heard about Alexis' story from a news piece in the Des Moines Register newspaper (click link to read), and was so moved that I wanted to help her wishes come true.

Alexis has a rare genetic disease known as Autosomal Dominant Optic or OPA-1. This genetic disorder affects hearing and sight. She already has a cochlear implant to help her with massive hearing loss. She has trouble hearing on the phone, so we text — which is great, because we get to also share images of our animals and other parts of our lives as we get to know each other. Unfortunately, that won't last either.

She is just a young teen, with her whole life in front of her, but sadly, by the time she finishes high school, she will not only be deaf, she will be completely blind. 

Alexis has but one wish: to see as much of the world as possible before she loses her sight.

One of her dreams is to view the Northern Lights, so through friends, I am planning to take her (and her Mom) to Iceland in November. 

It will be the first time we will meet in person. 

Next spring, Alexis and her family will visit me in Los Angeles. I plan on taking her to see all the great things the city has to offer, and to visit a film set or two. 

I'll keep making her travel wishes come true, well past Iceland and Hollywood. I want her to see as much as she can.

The money raised here by you will help Alexis check off both the Northern Lights and Los Angeles from her bucket list, and other places she would like to see — and if we reach the goal amount, any money donated above that amount will be contributed to Adoog.org to help others with this life-changing disease.

Our goal is $20,000 — which may seem high, but it includes airfare to and from Iceland for Alexis and her mom, lodging, food and transportation costs while there; airfare to and from LA for Alexis, her parents and two siblings, lodging, food and transportation. I don't want the family to incur any costs from these trips if possible!

I'll also be ticking off more locations on her travel wish-list.

The largest expense by far is airfare to and from Iceland. But urgency is crucial, both to catch the Northern Lights at their prime and to make sure Alexis sees them before her disorder fully takes her sight.

Each person who donates will receive:
A special shout out during Alexis' travels via social media (I have a more than a million followers on Twitter @adventuregirl).


In addition, I will be giving Alexis a T-shirt with each donor's name on it, so you can travel with her vicariously. (And you can also follow along her journey through photos posted at adventuregirl.com.)

My heart broke when I read Alexis' story.

As a traveler, able to see so many great things across this world, it's unimaginable to me what each day would be like to wake up every morning, wondering if today would be the last day of being able to see around me. 

Just as important to me as helping Alexis travel before she completely loses her hearing and vision is to help raise awareness for this disorder. Even if you can't contribute at this time, please educate yourself about OPA-1 and spread the word about this campaign so that we can help Alexis and others find a cure. 

I would be ever so grateful to have you be part of her journey.

To learn more about OPA-1 fenetic disorder click here .
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Donations 

  • Michael Driver
    • $50 
    • 7 yrs
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Organizer

Stefanie Michaels
Organizer
Santa Monica, CA

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