Grej Pesjaka

Oregon? Check!

Las Vegas? Check!

Grand Canyon? Check!

This past year, 9th grader Grej Pesjakahas done more traveling than most of his classmates. Or most adults.

In fact, for two years now, Grej hasbeen exploring the country and encountering new experiences as part of Junior Blind’s Visions: Adventures in Learning program. To date, he’s attended more than ten of these adventures, trying everything from cruising the desert in an ATV to downhill skiing through the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Given everything he’s done, most would be hard-pressed to guess that Grej is completely blind in one eye and legally blind in the other. As he puts it,

“Many people expect someone who can’t see to be really different. But that’s not true.”

Afflicted with a genetic eye condition known as FEVR (familial exudative vitreoretinopathy), Grej had full vision until the age of eight. Then, one morning, he woke up unable to see.

Six years and four surgeries later, Grej has made sure that his new world isn’t too far different from his old. He still plays basketball. He still goes swimming. And the Visions program has served as another way Grej has gone about maintaining a regular teenage life.

“Everything about the Visions adventures is fun. You get to see new places, meet new friends and do new things. I liked to play sports before I lost my sight, so all the activities Visions offers really excite me.”

Being away from home, Grej also finds these experiences have helped increase his independence.

“My mom isn’t around to say, ‘Be careful here.’ or ‘Be careful there.’ Instead, I get to be the one taking care of myself.”

His mother, Ludmilla, agrees that the Visions program has been of tremendous benefit to Grej. As a working parent, it’s not often that she has the time to plan such things herself. However, she is grateful to Visions for far more than just providing Grej with a list of new experiences. It’s the inner change she’s observed in her son that elates her the most.

“What happened to Grej changed his life. But, since going on these adventures, I’ve seen him become a stronger person. Visions is helping him take on life’s challenges as a confident young man.”