Sight For Summer Grace

KING GEORGE, Va. (WUSA) -- At first glance, few people would pick up on anything unusual about one year old Summer Grace.

But the baby girl suffers from a rare disorder called septo-optic dysplasia.

Her mother Mandy explains that Summer..."... won't be able to see. It's not fixable, she's going to blind."

Septo-optic dysplasia leaves the optic nerves essentially underdeveloped.

Figuring out motherhood is a challenge in and of itself. For Mandy, Summer entered her life when she was also figuring out life as a senior in high school. The news that Summer would be blind devastated the whole family.

Summer's grandmother Beth says, "I just felt helpless, like there was nothing I could do to help her."

For those born with septo-optic dysplasia, the disorder manifests in various ways from severe learning disabilities, to being shorter in stature, to visual impairments or complete blindness.

Both Mandy and Summer's grandmother Beth started working with Summer immediately and the little girl began physical therapy.

However, after scouring the Internet, Beth came across numerous stories of children just like Summer who had traveled thousands of miles to China for stem cell treatments and were regaining vision as a result.

"It took my breath away," explains Mandy.

Beth says,"I've read testimonials from people. Just as I know she was blind, I know she will see."

The stem cell treatments used in China are currently not approved in the United States. Doctors there are using cord blood to try and regenerate the optic nerves with hopes that patients develop some type of vision.

Beth says,"If she can see a color or something, we know we did everything we could do."

For Mandy and her family, the trip and procedure does come with a hefty price tag and will require an extended stay. No matter the distance or sacrifice... it's a risk, they say, they are willing to take... to bring light into Summer's world.

Currently in the United States stem cell therapy is considered controversial and there's no guarantee it will work.

The Allison family says they have to try.

Total cost, including treatments and travel expenses will be more than $50,000.

There will be a community fundraiser this Saturday for Summer:

Partlow Ruritan Club, Partlow Va.

8pm-Midnight

For more information about Summer Grace, click here.