With My Own Eyes: Jennica's Journey

Jennica Marie Ferguson lost her eyes to cancer in infancy, the left at two months, the right a year later. Not satisfied with taking her eyes, the relentless cancer eventually took Jennica's life when she was eighteen years old. "A strong young tree, chopped down before its time ..." Cara Forsyth describes her cousin in her poignant poem "August Afternoon". "With My Own Eyes" is the story of Jennica's journey through her eighteen years of life on earth, years remarkable for their normalcy in spite of the great challenge. Strengthened by a steadfast faith in God, Jennica embraced life and lived it fully. She did all the things considered normal for sighted children ... routine childhood things like dressing, eating, playing, going to school. She learned to read and write on pace with her peers. Her twin brother, Aaron, was an excellent bench mark ... they grew together, as equals. Jennica grew, and she excelled. She traveled unaccompanied on public busses and airplanes. She mentored other blind children, some of them older than she. At eleven she addressed the Ohio Senate, presenting a persuasive case for passage of a "Braille Bill" that would fund and promote the use of Braille. The bill was passed in Ohio as well as several other states. Considered "blind" in the traditional sense, Jennica was anything but. She saw with eyes most of us can't understand ... unique eyes ... God-given eyes ... her "own eyes".