Jess Gallagher.

Summer & Winter Paralympic Medallist

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Alfie’s Story

  • August 15, 2019

Last year I received a beautiful email from a Mum whose son had been diagnosed with an eye condition. It broke my heart to learn that on diagnosis the Doctor had told her and her husband that their little baby boy would be bullied growing up, never get a job and that he would never live a fulfilled life. Understandably, they were distraught and utterly heartbroken.

During this time they experienced every possible emotion including fear, despair and anger. Anger at how a medical professional could make such a statement about a 6 month old baby. As they came to terms with the diagnosis of a vision impairment they started realising that just because one person makes such a negative, judgemental statement they didn’t need to believe it or listen to it. They were determined to empower their little boy Alfie to dream big and let nothing stop him.

Alfie’s Mum Diana, a wonderful film producer embraced this emotion, passionate to share her story in the hope to show other’s that a negative and tough time doesn’t need to last.

I suppose this is where I come in…

In wanting to share how people with low vision can live an incredible fulfilled life Diana started researching online and came across me.

She reached out, we started chatting and discovered the synergies between our experiences, the incredible reactions and response to a challenge from our families and the support they gave us to ensure low vision was no impediment to our lives.

Diana asked if I would share my family’s story in her creation to showcase the beginning of the low vision journey for her family and the journey 15 years on for my family.

Over the years I’ve come to realise that whilst I follow my dreams that my greatest ability to help others in challenges they may face is to lead by example in living the life I choose. I was incredibly excited to meet little Alfie (now 3), big brother William and Mum and Dad (Diana and Rob) to show them firsthand that whilst low vision might have some challenges there is no challenge that is too great to overcome.

I’ve just recently returned from Mt Buller and it was an incredibly special experience, Alfie’s first time on snow and he had his very own personal ski instructor… me!

His cheekiness and enthusiasm were infectious. After just one run he was telling me to go faster and faster and pointing to the big run… ‘let’s go down there!’ he exclaimed. I think I would have had a heart attack taking him down the steeper runs so I convinced him we could go fast enough where we were!!! It was very special for me to share the winter world I love with Alfie and it was wonderful to share this experience with his family, my ski guide Eric along with Aaron, our cinematographer and Glenn on sound. Filming was especially beautiful with all of us so emotionally connected to Diana’s vision.

Below are a couple of beautiful behind the scenes photos, I feel they speak much more than any words I could write. The smiles on our faces say it all.

Stay tuned as we continue to film some special footage for Diana’s heartfelt creation sharing ‘Alfie’s Story’.

Until next time…

Jess

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Jessica Gallagher 5 days ago

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Jessica Gallagher 1 month ago

Yeah, that was fun. 👌🚣‍♀️ https://t.co/2dWciMJamj

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Chucking laps with my mates the swans & ducks. Som Chucking laps with my mates the swans & ducks. Sometimes they scare me because they move out of the way too slowly but almost every time I pass one I giggle to myself & think of Billy Maddison's famous line 'stop looking at me swannnn' 🦢🦆🦢🦆 
PS. Melbourne you're so damn pretty 👌
In my 10th year as @visionaustralia ambassador whe In my 10th year as @visionaustralia ambassador whether watching from home or sitting in the crowd at the Sidney Myer music bowl Vision Australias Carol's By Candlelight is by far my favourite event of the year. It's our biggest fund-raiser to help support VA's children services. The bonus of watching from home- you can sing as loudly as you want! 🎶 Merry Christmas  everyone & enjoy the show! This pic is a  throwback to 2018 Carols backstage with Alfie & William. 🎄🎁❤
If you wish to contribute you can donate at www.givetocarols.com
Yeah, that was fun. 👌🚣‍♀️ Yeah, that was fun. 👌🚣‍♀️
When you see someone with (a visible) disability w When you see someone with (a visible) disability what do you think? Do you see the ability in disability? 
(Rembmer there are lots of disabilities that are invidible too)
Love this campaign from the Australian Government (DSS) & delighted to be a part of it. See if you can spot me! 🎿
Happy International Day of People with a Disability. #IDPWD #disablesterostypes
I’m really proud to have been re-elected to the I’m really proud to have been re-elected to the @vision2020aus Board for my third term. Thank you to our member organisations who continue to trust in me and my passion for the eye health and vision care sector. I truly value the opportunity I have to help shape our sector for the benefit to those of us who live it. A special mention and thanks must go to our outgoing Chair, the Hon Amanda Vanstone AO. It’s been a privilege working with and learning from her these past 6 years. She has the most wonderful stories that I’m really going to miss listening to! We are very fortunate to be welcoming our newly elected Chair, the Hon Christopher Pyne (@pynechristopher) to Vision 2020 alongside Directors Associate Professor Heather Mack, Jane Schuller and Shaun Tatipata. I’m very excited to have these incredible people join the Board. We’ve achieved a significant amount in the organisations 20 years but there is plenty left to do! 

Instead of posting a boring Board photo 😂 here’s some images from when I travelled to Vietnam in 2012 to see firsthand the impact of the work of Vision 2020 Australia and its members. It was a life changing trip. These are the moments I got to witness a young girl, with avoidable low vision see clearly for the first time as she was given a pair of glasses that her single Father could not afford. They cost AUD$10. I’ll never forget the moment she put the glasses on, stepped outside to look at a tree and realise that she could see it. I was bawling my eyes out watching it and then I turned around and saw her Father’s face and his smile. His little girl could see. 😭💕 That smile will never leave my heart. The gratitude. The love. Everyone in the room's life changed that day. Everyone has the right to sight. ❤
📸 The legend that is @deansaffron
@13cabs have been a long time sponsor of mine & I @13cabs have been a long time sponsor of mine & I wanted to share this little graph I saw because even as a frequent customer of taxis I was completely unaware of the differences between providers when it comes to food delivery. I was super impressed to learn that they don't charge 30% commission to restaurants & cafes like others do meaning that money stays in the pockets of local business. Brilliant! ❤ #13things
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Gallagher.

Summer & Winter Paralympic Medallist

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