HUDSONVILLE, Mich.--Imagine not being able to drive, go to work, or even see your child's face.
That's the case for Michelle Adamski, a West Michigan mom, who is completely losing her sight.
"You don’t realize how much you use it, or how big, or large of a part of your life your vision is," Adamski said, who is married with two kids, one 9, the other, 1.
Many say the bond a mother has with her kids is like none other, but for Adamski, one aspect of that bond is blurred.
"I can't see my kids faces anymore, that's the worst part," Adamski said.
About a year ago, Michelle's vision started fading, so she made an appointment with an eye specialist.
Within six months, it was worse.
"At first, it was not a huge concern. When I first noticed it I was just seeing very tiny spots in my vision, just a little blank spot," Adamski said.
Her vision has now reached 20/500 in both eyes. Normal vision is 20/20 and legally blind is 20/400. According to Adamski, "certain signals aren't reaching heroptic nerves."
"I went into work one day...I tried to take my first phone call and I couldn’t see anything on the computer screen," Adamski said.
In less than a year she went from perfectly normal vision to legally blind. Now, she can only see the outlines of big shapes.
Doctors say it could be due to Multiple Sclerosis, but they're not sure.
"It’s been hard, you know, waking up those first moments in the morning and you look around and you’re like, that’s right, it’s not there anymore," Adamski said.
As for hope, that's not gone yet.
There's a clinical trial in Florida, Adamski is hoping to attend.
"They take your bone marrow out of your hip, they put it in some fancy little machine to separate the stem cells and they actually inject it directly into your eye, right back where your optic nerve is," Adamski said.
Michelle says the research is the first of its kind here in the U.S, and could very well help her see again.
The catch?
It's privately funded, and costs around $20,000.
"I’d be able to see their faces across the room when they’re making a silly face or laughing. I’d love to experience that... it would mean everything," Adamski said.
There has been a GoFundMe set up to help Michelle reach her goal of 25,000.
Her husband lost his job and they're supporting two kids solely on disability checks.
If you would like to help Michelle get her vision back, click here.
To learn more about the Stem Cell Ophthalmology Treatment Study, click here.
