The painter is poised with her face only inches from the canvas, gazing intently at her masterpiece. She squints and adds dabs of pink to the cheeks of a beautiful young lady.
Hours tick by, until finally the brush strokes transform into lifelike faces.
Admiring her work, sophomore Diane Bradish takes in the rainbow of colors before her, knowing that one day she may not be able to see the hues of orange in the autumn leaves, or the tinge of scarlet on her little brother's face as he giggles because Bradish's eyesight is threatened by a disease that could someday leave her blind. Bradish is afflicted with Gondii Toxoplasmosis, a disease caused by an intracellular parasite that when active damages the retina, resulting in blind spots and in some cases, complete loss of vision. Bradish has been fighting this rare disease since she was three. Overcoming obstacles As a result of her disease, everyday tasks are difficult for Bradish because of her limited vision. People take for granted walking into the kitchen, easily reading directions on a box, and preparing food.