TALK ON THE STREET
February 11, 2015
Miles touts 2015 recruiting efforts a success
February 11, 2015
For Ben Thaden-Pierce, 9, seeing Mardi Gras for the first time will be especially important, because it may also be his last time.
The Lake Dallas, Texas, youth was born three months and one week premature and suffers from ROP, or retinopathy of prematurity This means that Ben’s eyes are not developing correctly as he grows older. ROP, which is the same condition that led to Stevie Wonder’s blindness, may also lead to retinal detachment.
The full extent of Ben’s vision loss will not be known until Ben stops growing in his early 20s.
It is for this reason that Ben’s parents, Hiedi and Kit Thaden-Pierce, are making sure that Ben sees as many things as possible before he can no longer see at all.
“There’s no telling. We will know finally around the time he is 22 and his eyesight stops developing – he stops growing – then we’ll know what the final damage is,” dad Kit said. “… Which is one of the reasons why we are doing the whole visual memory thing now. He’s old enough to remember, and old enough to appreciate, and old enough to articulate, and because we don’t know what the future is going to hold for him, it’s one of those situations where what kind of parents would we be if we didn’t see the need and prioritize the need.”
Ben’s vision wish list includes snorkeling, the Parthenon, a toy factory, skiing, Japan, the Sistine Chapel and various other activities and sights, some of which his mother has “vetoed” due to “practicality and finances.”
The family has already crossed some things off the list.
“For me, the experiences range from the simple – he got to see a farm; to the amazing — he got to see the Northern Lights; and to the kind of weird – we got to see the inside of a water tower,” Kit said. “When an eight year old makes a list of things he wants to see, there’s going to be stuff like that!”
One more thing the Thaden-Pierces will very soon be able to cross off Ben’s list will be Mardi Gras.
Kit was apprehensive at first when his son told him that he wanted to see Mardi Gras.
“When Ben told him, ‘I want to see Mardi Gras,’ I was like, ‘Ehh, I’ve heard stories,”‘ Kit said. “The good people of Houma have insisted that your Mardi Gras is a family-friendly affair, so we’re going to hold you to that!”
Ben will be riding in a couple of parades in both New Orleans and Houma. He will be the Junior Grand Marshal for the Krewe of Morpheus and will ride in a convertible in the Krewe of Houmas in Houma, said Angie Pellegrin, a Houma-native who saw Ben’s story on “The Today Show” and wanted to help him see Mardi Gras.
“Being that we are a family oriented crew, the Krewe of Houmas were honored to extend an invitation to Ben and his family to be a part of our Mardi Gras traditions,” krewe member Mark Kinnard said. “He will be an honored guest not only at our tableau, he will also be riding in our parade.”
Pellegrin, who is a psychologist, was struck by Ben’s parents’ efforts in supporting their son in his transition to going blind.
“They had a plethora of incredibly kind and generous offers” from a number of Mardi Gras krewes throughout Southeast Louisiana, but the dates of their events clashed with the family’s schedule, she said.
Pellegrin is coordinating the Thaden-Pierce Mardi Gras trip and also fundraising to help cover the family’s expenses while here. She started a Facebook group, called various Mardi Gras krewes, and is organizing a plate lunch fundraiser on Feb. 5.
Rouses is flying the Thaden-Pierces to southeast Louisiana and the Mariott in New Orleans is providing them with accommodations.
If you are interested in buying a plate lunch to help cover the Thaden-Pierce family’s expenses while enjoying Mardi Gras, email orders to angiepellegrin@gmail.com.
The plate lunches will feature jambalaya, white beans and fried catfish. They can be picked up at 293 Lake Mechant Ct. between 10:30 a.m. and noon on Feb. 5. Orders with 10 meals or more will be delivered for free.
Visit facebook.com/groups/BensMardiGrasTrip for more information.
The Thaden-Pierce family poses for a portrait. Ben, fourth from the left, suffers from retinopathy. His eyesight is steadily declining and he may go blind. Kit and Hiedi Thaden Pierce are trying to fulfill their son’s ‘vision wish list’ before he goes blind, bringing them to Houma for Mardi Gras.
