Owasso girl losing sight has one wish
| Updated: 7/06/2012 9:16 am |
Published: 7/05/2012 8:53 pm
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Malerie Levens spirit is infectious and so is her love for pop music's biggest star: Justin Bieber. “I like his music. I like his looks. I could go on and on for days,” she told FOX23 on Thursday. She connects with the Canadian superstar. “Our parents (got) divorced around the same age. He was not even a year old maybe, and I wasn't either. We both have our talent, and we believe that we'll be able to stick to it.” For Malerie that talent is dance. While she moves like Justin, she doesn't see like him. Malerie has a rare eye condition called Stargardt Disease. “It's like looking through a broken glass for her,” Malerie’s mother, Paige Cromwell, said. A year and a half ago, Malerie's parents found out she was going blind. “(I was) crushed. I just want her to be happy,” her father, Eric Levens, told FOX23. Malerie's world forever changed with the diagnosis. “Since she was diagnosed, her vision is probably two or three times worse,” Eric said. “My heart felt like it was shot with a gun,” Paige told FOX23. Soon she might have to quit dancing and go to a school for blind students, but before her world changes forever Malerie has one wish. “I really want to see him.” She wants to see Justin in person, in concert, but tickets to Justin’s upcoming tour are the hottest thing in North America. “I would do whatever it took to get tickets,” Eric said. Malerie's parents could probably find lower bowl tickets to Justin Bieber's stop in Tulsa at the BOK Center in January on the internet, but a seat there wouldn't matter to the 11 year-old. She needs to be very close to Justin to actually see him. “Realistically if she's not in the front she won't be able to see him,” Eric told FOX23. Those seats are expensive. “(They’re) more than a $1,000,” Malerie said. “In my wallet right now, I only have like $15, but in my bank account I have $100.” Her parents have looked for front row seats. “There's not even access to the tickets now,” Eric said, “We don't even have the opportunity to get tickets now.” Time is running out. If she waits much longer Malerie may never have the chance to see her idol, but what she'll always see is the bright side of things. “Everyone that has a disability in life, or has something that they can't get over, don't give up, follow your dreams, and don't ever think that you can't do it,” Malerie said. Her parents hope someone can connect them with the tickets Malerie needs. “I would just be forever in their debt to be able to give something that means so much to my daughter,” Eric said. For more information about Stargardt Disease, click here: http://www.macular.org/stargardts.html
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