Family of blind teen needs help for high-tech glasses that would help him see
LIVONIA (WJBK) - WEB UPDATE (6/6): The family of Gabriel Sirr has reached their $10,000 goal and can now afford to buy him special glasses that will allow him to see for the first time.
Gabriel's mother Jessica took to Facebook to thank FOX 2 viewers for their generosity.
"We would like to thank everyone that shared the GoFundMe page, that donated, commented, and a huge thank you to Fox 2 Detroit for sharing Gabriel’s story! We are overwhelmed by the response and we really appreciate everyone’s support.
"There are tears of joy that Gabriel has reached his goal! We will continue to update the page as he goes on his journey. He is extremely grateful to everyone and is very excited for his new glasses! Again, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts!"
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-The original story is below-
Sixteen-year-old Gabriel Sirr has been struggling to see since he was a baby.
"My dad used to take me to the Tigers games and I always asked him what is going on because I couldn't see, but I could hear them," he said.
When he turned a year old, doctors diagnosed him with Wagr syndrome - a rare genetic disorder.
"(We worried) how is he going to function, where is he going to go in life, can we afford all the medical bills that come along with it," said his mom, Jessica Sirr. "We struggle like every American."
With Wagr comes a variety of health issues. Gabriel was born without an iris, is legally blind, mentally disabled and has been forced to battle kidney cancer among other illnesses.
Despite his challenges, Gabriel loves the Detroit Tigers and making people laugh, remains positive.
"One thing I would like to do in school is work on the board," he said. "Because I could never see what was on the board."
But that could change - because of glasses developed by e-Sight a Toronto-based company give legally blind people a chance to see. Gabriel had a chance to try them out.
"It practically opened a whole new world," he said.
"These glasses are amazing for him," Jessica said. "It is going to change so much in his life - but they are $10,000 that my insurance doesn't cover."
And the Sirr family, who lives paycheck to paycheck, can't afford to buy them for Gabriel.
"I stayed up nights thinking of the ways I can do this," Jessica said. "My sister was like, do a GoFundMe and I said I can't ask people for money. I'm like I'll work, I'll work hard and my boss even said do you want the overtime, I'll give it to you. My company has been amazing."
A relative has also created a GoFundMe page to help cover the cost. Gabriel wants to see a Tigers game, continue school and start writing - something he could do with the help of the glasses.
And the family would be grateful for any donations.
"There is a long way ahead and I am doing my best to make this happen for him, I mean I will make it happen for him," she said.
"It would allow me to do things I couldn't do before," he said.
FOX 2: "What do you think about that?"
"Incredible," he said.
If you would like to donate, CLICK HERE for his GoFundMe.