Six-year-old girl Molly Bent compiles 'bucket list' of things to see before she goes blind
Molly Bent was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa a year ago
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Your support makes all the difference.A six-year-old girl suffering from a genetic degenerative eye disease has compiled a “bucket list” of things she wants to see before she goes blind.
Molly Bent, from Manchester, was born with normal eyesight, but was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa a year ago. The condition, for which there is no cure, causes progressive vision loss.
Her parents Eve and Chris first noticed Molly was having trouble with her sight when she began struggling to read her homework or watch television after starting primary school.
‘‘Although my brother has the condition and several uncles have had it, I never thought Molly could have inherited it because we were always told that only boys could get it,’’ Eve told The Telegraph.
“When we got the diagnosis it was a big shock. We don't know exactly when Molly will go blind but it feels as though her sight deteriorates every time we go to the opticians.
“She now can't see out of the sides of her eyes and recently she told us that everybody standing far away looks like 'fuzzy teddy bears.’ Molly also has night blindness, so she can hardly see in low lights and she falls over quite a lot.’’
The couple’s two other children – Charlotte, 5, and 2-year-old Samuel – do not suffer from the disease but, because it is hereditary, they are tested every three to six months for signs of degenerating vision.
‘‘There is still a chance that I could have three blind children and that terrifies me,” said Eve.
But she said Molly’s siblings were coping well with their sister’s illness and that the family was working together to help Molly take in as much as possible before her eyes get “too poorly”.
“We just want to help her create as many magical memories as we possibly can,” Eve said.
“Molly has a list as long as her arm of things she wants to see. She wants to visit London, Australia and Egypt to see the pyramids. I know I won't be able to give her half of that but I can try.”
The family have set up a fundraising page called Making Molly's Memories, which has so far raised over £34,000.
In a post published on the page on Sunday, Eve wrote: “Words cannot begin to describe how amazed and grateful we are by all the wonderful donations and offers of help. We know a lot of you have sent messages and we intend to get back to everybody, but as you can probably understand it has been a busy few days!
“What started off as some small local fundraising to help our baby girl has become news across the globe and we are so thankful and indebted to you for your support. Every penny helps to get our little girl closer to seeing her dreams and taking her to places we never dreamed we would be able to get to.
"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Eve and Chris xxxx.”
Molly’s bucket list:
Disney
London
See the Queen’s palace
Natural History Museum
Blackpool
Scotland
Aquarium
Safari park
Legoland
Beach
Museums
Theatre trips
Concerts
Australia
Football match
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