Anniel is a nine-year-old girl from Bolivia who receives medical care from the International Program at John Hopkins Children’s Hospital. She has been coping with a complex medical condition since a very young age. In 2020, Anniel underwent surgery and since has exhibited numerous vision problems. Since her country of Bolivia does not offer vision loss rehabilitation services, Anniel’s parents and medical team had no choice but to seek help elsewhere. This barrier led them to Lighthouse of Pinellas to receive the vision services Anniel required.
Because Anniel is not a resident of Florida, she does not qualify for state funding or assistance for these services. Thanks to the financial support from St. Petersburg Lions Club, Anniel has been receiving services from Lighthouse of Pinellas since October 2021.
Some of the services Anniel receives from Lighthouse of Pinellas include braille writing skills, orientation & mobility skills (safely navigating with a white cane), and assistive technology training. Even though it has been hard for her to learn how to accept her vision loss, she continues to show improvement.
We are thankful for the financial support the St. Petersburg Lions Club has provided so that Anniel can transition to this new chapter of her life.
Learn more about the programs and services at Lighthouse of Pinellas.