Help Restore Hearing for Blind Student
Donation protected
My friend, Shamurat (Shon), is a blind exchange student from Kyrgyzstan. He earned a honors scholarship (out of over 100,000 applicants) to attend his senior year of High School in the United States. Not only is Shon academically gifted, but his resilience, positive attitude, and story of perseverance has touched so many lives, including mine.
Shon was born blind and relies heavily upon his hearing. It was devastating to learn that he now has damage causing profound hearing loss that requires extensive surgery to restore. Unfortunately, the surgery costs over $20,000 and needs to be done as soon as possible, in order to save his hearing. The surgeon believes that his hearing can be restored with over a 90% success rate. With your support, Shon will be able to have this surgery he so desperately needs. Your help will be life changing!
Growing up without family support, Shon has lived the majority of his life in a boarding school for the blind where fighting for survival was his main goal. The school had very few resources, no technology, and often not even enough food. Shon used a pinhole of vision, in one eye, to learn and read everything he could, including teaching himself 4 languages. Sadly, in Kyrgyzstan, nothing is accessible for someone who is blind. For that reason, Shon would be unable to attend college there as he would be expected to study as a sighted student. He would also have very limited job opportunities and would most likely be farm help and only receive food as compensation.
The type of Visa Shon currently holds requires him to return to Kyrgyzstan in June. Without proof of tuition payment for his first year ($17,000 for GRCC) Shon is not eligible to receive a Visa to return and attend college in the United States. In addition to his college and medical expenses, travel and visa paperwork in Bishkek is another financial hurdle. Flights alone are averaging over $3,000. We are trying to help ensure funds are available, so he can return to the U.S. as soon as possible to continue with his studies and receive much needed medical care.
Shon would love to continue his education in the United States where he has been taught grade 2 braille, how to travel independently with a cane, how to use a computer, and learned to utilize technology that is available to him here. It has opened a whole new world that he says he never knew was possible. With your support, Shon will be able to have the surgery he so desperately needs and receive the medical care he deserves. Your help will also give him the opportunity to attend a college with accessibility, where he can thrive.
Shon was born blind and relies heavily upon his hearing. It was devastating to learn that he now has damage causing profound hearing loss that requires extensive surgery to restore. Unfortunately, the surgery costs over $20,000 and needs to be done as soon as possible, in order to save his hearing. The surgeon believes that his hearing can be restored with over a 90% success rate. With your support, Shon will be able to have this surgery he so desperately needs. Your help will be life changing!
Growing up without family support, Shon has lived the majority of his life in a boarding school for the blind where fighting for survival was his main goal. The school had very few resources, no technology, and often not even enough food. Shon used a pinhole of vision, in one eye, to learn and read everything he could, including teaching himself 4 languages. Sadly, in Kyrgyzstan, nothing is accessible for someone who is blind. For that reason, Shon would be unable to attend college there as he would be expected to study as a sighted student. He would also have very limited job opportunities and would most likely be farm help and only receive food as compensation.
The type of Visa Shon currently holds requires him to return to Kyrgyzstan in June. Without proof of tuition payment for his first year ($17,000 for GRCC) Shon is not eligible to receive a Visa to return and attend college in the United States. In addition to his college and medical expenses, travel and visa paperwork in Bishkek is another financial hurdle. Flights alone are averaging over $3,000. We are trying to help ensure funds are available, so he can return to the U.S. as soon as possible to continue with his studies and receive much needed medical care.
Shon would love to continue his education in the United States where he has been taught grade 2 braille, how to travel independently with a cane, how to use a computer, and learned to utilize technology that is available to him here. It has opened a whole new world that he says he never knew was possible. With your support, Shon will be able to have the surgery he so desperately needs and receive the medical care he deserves. Your help will also give him the opportunity to attend a college with accessibility, where he can thrive.
He dreams of going to MSU where they have an amazing resource center for people with disabilities!
Thank you for your support & generosity,
Isabelle Glover on behalf of Shon & the Thebo Family
Fundraising team (3)
Isabelle Glover
Organizer
Rockford, MI
Kimberly Thebo
Beneficiary
Greg Glover
Team member
Kimberly Compston-Thebo
Team member
