Mary Phillippi lived a normal childhood, but when she became a young adult, things became a nightmare. 

 

 

When Mary Phillippi turned 18, she started to notice a difference in her eyesight. Like anyone else concerned with their health, she went to an optometrist. She was devastated with what the doctor's verdict was. She was diagnosed with Stargardt's disease. She was at that moment declared legally blind.

 

Stargardt's disease is the most common form of a juvenile form of macular degeneration which is inherited from a person's parents. This means a loss in vision will happen at an early age.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even though Mary was forced to give up her right to drive at the early age of 23, she manages to get around the small town she lives in. She does her shopping, gets her hair fixed, nails painted, and many other things that can be tough for people that are legally blind. 

 

Mary has obtained several jobs in her hometown of Wytheville over her time living there. Her favorite job she had was working at the Wytheville Visitor's Center. There, she helped tourists and visitors find their way across town and to restaurants that only Wytheville has to offer. 

 

Mary also likes to travel places with her friend Katrina. They went to Dallas, Texas in the early summer of 2015 for a Mary Kay conference.