Kiana’s Story

Although I can’t visually experience my daughter, she sees everything I do. She watches how I move through the world—and that makes it even more important that I live with purpose. I’m not just raising her, I’m modeling what strength and determination look like on a daily basis.

Being a blind mother means I don’t have time to give in to fear or grief. Homework has to be checked, hair needs braiding, bedtime stories need reading. With the help of Lighthouse Guild, I’ve learned how to do all of it—on my terms.

Every class and every session brought me closer to confidence and independence—not just as a mom, but as a woman. I still remember the day, just two weeks after giving birth, when Lighthouse Guild’s vision rehab therapist, Lilly Harris, showed up at my home. She calmly told me, “Let’s start today.” She showed me how to care for my baby safely, keep the house organized, and build a life that worked for me. That day changed everything.

The most life-changing part was my orientation and mobility training with O&M specialist Jeff Amburry. I still remember standing in front of Yankee Stadium with my cane in one hand, my three-year-old daughter’s tiny hand in the other, tears on my face, knowing there were hours ahead of us to practice until I could navigate to her preschool on my own. I wasn’t sure if I could do it. Jeff’s steady guiding presence and support helped me take another step forward to gaining my independence as a mother.

Now I don’t even think twice about navigating to work, picking up my daughter from school, or flourishing in my career. This year, I organized and rode on Lighthouse Guild’s charity team for the TD Five Boro Bike Tour. At mile 28, as we approached the team’s cheering section under the Brooklyn Bridge, where my daughter and mother were waiting, I heard my own mother’s voice—and I called out to my 9-year old baby girl, “Kali, here I come!” She ran to me, jumped into my arms and in that moment I was so proud of the decade of hard work teaching her to be strong like her mom.

We were then joined by my mother in a three-way hug: three generations, one moment I’ll never forget. That love powered me over the Verrazzano Bridge and across the finish line.

Lighthouse Guild helped me become the mom my daughter deserves. 

If you would like to join team #SeeNoLimits, click here. If you would like to donate to the team, click here.