
Ray's of Light
Donation protected
Raynier the magnificent. But we don’t have to tell you that’s who Ray is if you’ve met him- you’re already familiar with his strength, wit, creativity, joy, and love for his people (and that’s a love given generously, to so many). This year brought an unexpected discovery of Ray’s uniqueness in another way when he was diagnosed with a rare form of Rod and Cone Dystrophy. This is a condition affecting the retina, where rod cells govern peripheral and night vision while cone cells control central vision, color perception, and fine details. The gene associated with Ray’s variation of dystrophy has only been identified in 11 other individuals in the world. Ultimately, this condition will result in Ray losing his eyesight to the point of impacting everything in his life.
The discovery brought an endless flow of questions for Chris and Leanne to navigate and decisions to be made on how to support Raynier as his vision deteriorates. Did they need to move to a house that is more accessible, or should they remodel their own home? What support services would they need to add? Were there ways to slow down Ray’s vision deterioration? What would the process look like for Ray to begin learning Braille? And countless more- trying to process through a whole new way of living as a family. This is not only about Ray’s vision. Navigating this new set of challenges within intellectual disabilities and communication delays means Chris, Leanne, and Ray’s care team are also working on teaching him the vocabulary to be able to advocate for himself as he experiences the changes in vision as well.
Ultimately, Leanne and Chris discerned that the best option would be to commit to staying in their home and pursuing the custom renovations that would facilitate Ray’s long-term safety and opportunity to grow in independence, even as the condition progressed. While communication delays make it hard to know exactly what Raynier can actually see or not see, the last few months have resulted in evidence of impacts sooner than expected, particularly with Ray’s nighttime vision and peripheral vision. In June, Ray’s low vision occupational therapist identified a list of things that needed to change almost immediately in order to help Ray navigate and stay safe in their home. It has become abundantly clear that time is of the essence to begin the changes. The urgency stems from the opportunity to build a visual memory for Ray of the house in the form that it will exist long-term. In other words, he needs to live in the new environment long enough to adjust and confidently know where everything is at. If not established in time, Ray will be simultaneously trying to learn and spatially navigate the new home while having less visual capabilities to do so.
The goal is to create the safest environment possible for Ray to be at home, and learn to be independent even with vision loss and autism. He can’t have this independence in the current style of their home. The Laffoons took into account assessments conducted by Ray’s low vision occupational therapist from Duke, who evaluated what type of lighting is best for Ray, and shared recommendations related to ideas for contrast and considering the impact of glare. They also brought in a civil engineering company- the Laffoons to draw the structural plans to present to the city of Durham because of the extent of work that’s being done. (You can learn more about the “why” behind the changes, and the full scope of renovations, in the details at the very bottom of this section.) The total costs associated with the changes that are needed for Ray’s immediate and long-term safety, along with creating an environment for him to thrive and grow in independence, are in the range of $100,000-150,000. The contracting company needed for carrying out the work has been secured.
To know and love Ray is also to know and love his family. To see Chris and Leanne continually embrace a God-given calling to magnify the Gospel through every aspect of their life. If you’re reading this, then you’ve either personally experienced the blessing of being in community with the Laffoons, or this was shared by someone you know who’s been impacted by their family. The ripple effects of their generosity of their time, talents, and resources to reflect the love of Christ run deep in RDU and beyond. What a privilege to now, in turn, be part of the community running alongside their family on this journey. Will you consider joining us?
***Additional Pathways of Support***
If you’d like to run alongside the Laffoon family in other ways right now beyond direct support through the GoFundMe, here are a few pathways:
Prayer | Leanne shared that we can pray for Godly wisdom for their family as they process through all these things. We can pray for a place for their family to stay during the renovation process. She also shared that prayers for preparing their hearts were important, as everything that their family changes will be a challenge for each of them, especially Ray’s siblings. Leanne affirmed that they know God will provide all that is needed, but prayers for their family to remember that when it looks like God is far away.
Backyard Cleanup | To learn more or sign up for ways to help as they prepare their backyard for the transformation, please visit this page .
Creative Giving | If you’re interested in creative ways to leverage specific talents or abilities toward raising funds for the GoFundMe (e.g. arts/crafts, baking, babysitting for donations…) please reach out to Alex for a brainstorm buddy on what that form of support could look like.
***The “Why” and Scope of Renovations***
Before we share the scope of the drastic changes necessary through the Laffoons’ home, it’s helpful to understand key themes underpinning the project:
- Everything needs to be high contrast. Floors, countertops, cabinets, furniture, and more have to work in a functional system of light and dark coloration to provide visibility.
- Lighting is crucial, because the retina is responsible for turning light into signals. The brightness, the type (cool vs warm), how it’s reflective, how natural and artificial lights interact with paint colors on the wall, sources of glare, ability to control the levels throughout the day, and more are all crucial to orchestrate appropriately to allow Ray to get the signals he needs and perceive definition of objects. Recess lighting will be necessary in almost every room of the house.
- Permanence provides predictability. When thinking about the home layout and items, everything has to be functional, permanent, and have its place. This allows Ray to establish the visual memory needed for daily life in his home space that he can call upon as his vision continues deteriorating.
- The level of details is overwhelming. “Small” things that wouldn’t cross our minds in a renovation become key considerations for Ray’s safety and day to day life… All light switches have to be in contrast to the wall. All door frames have to be painted in a distinct color, and the doors/doorknobs must also be contrasting for visibility. The stairs have to have proper base color, contrast tape to draw attention, and lighting for safety. Even the dishes used on a daily basis need to be consistent in color (dark) for the food items to stand out in contrast…and those are just a few of countless examples the Laffoons are thinking through as they undergo this process.
With those themes in mind, the specific categories of renovating and preparing their home for what’s to come will include:
Decluttering and Organization | Downsizing all items in their home, as visual clutter and physical clutter are dangerous in all forms. Eventually, Ray won’t be able to distinguish between visual clutter and an item he’s seeking to use. Creating organization systems that all family members can use to start practicing now with keeping items off the floor, in designated bins, etc.
Furniture Replacement | Eliminating most of the movable furniture in their home, so every item that’s present will be semi-permanent and have its place (for Ray to know and navigate). Choosing new furniture items that are heavy duty enough to avoid needing to be changed every 2-3 years, and that are high contrast in color.
Flooring Redo | All flooring has to be replaced, to ensure consistency and work in tandem with the new system and colors of lighting, furniture, walls, etc. to provide the high contrast needed.
Wall Restructuring | Removing all unnecessary walls in the home to create less obstacles.
Bathroom Remodel | Not safe for Ray to navigate in its present state, due to L-shape of the room, and lighting.
Kitchen Remodel | Current kitchen layout is not practical for someone losing their sight. The new galley kitchen style is designed with Ray’s independence in mind- work station sink in the middle island, a microwave drawer, appliances that visually pop out from cabinets, a more practical shelving system, and an overall functionality of not having to travel around the kitchen to access key elements.
New Entranceway | One that is decluttered, safe, lit in the necessary way. This will involve expanding the current laundry room into the garage to form a new entry process featuring mudroom cabinets for each Laffoon kiddo to keep any clutter from becoming obstacles on the floor. It will also include installation of an outside door to this entry area with a new sidewalk to reach it (again, with proper lighting).
Backyard Transformation | Construction of a screened in porch and sensory swing area where Ray can rest and play in a safe environment. In the physical backyard, needs will include landscaping to clear out brush (allowing more window light in key spaces in the home), filling in the fire pit, creating a level mulched play area where Ray can walk and play independently without obstacles.
Organizer and beneficiary

Alex Steadman
Organizer
Durham, NC
Leanne Laffoon
Beneficiary