Lani's story

Meet Lani, a proud mum of two boys, Ethan and Henry, aged 12 and 5. Lani’s journey with blindness began 10 years ago when she was diagnosed with glaucoma. Her firstborn, Ethan, was just two years old at the time, and Lani’s whole life had been shaken.

Lani recalls this difficult time of her life: “Raising children without sight has been a true test of resilience, especially during COVID-19, when my mental health suffered, and I questioned my worth as a mum.”

Thanks to the support of her husband, Phu, and Vision Australia, Lani has been able to keep working and thriving in life. “Vision Australia provided me with tools and skills that helped me rebuild my confidence and rediscover my strength. Learning about assistive technology allowed me to return to work, and I am now proud to work at Crown Resorts Melbourne.”

“Losing my vision and discovering the potential of technology felt like opening a new door. It restored my sense of purpose and showed me that life without sight is still full of possibilities,” Lani says.

This Christmas, Lani will be taking part in Vision Australia’s Santa Fun Run, helping to raise funds and awareness for the Life Ready program. “I’m running to give back and support our community, especially those facing similar challenges. I hope that, in the future, more people will find the support they need sooner and that advancements in medicine and AI technology will continue to make life brighter for the blind community,” Lani explains.