Thursday, August 30, 2012
An inspirational teenager who lost his eyesight five years ago is now one of the star pupils in his school year after achieving remarkable GCSE results.
Jack Garner, who lost his sight after being diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition in 2007, has left school with high GCSE grades
pleased: Jack Garner with his results
The 16-year-old collected his results from Brumby Engineering College, where he got six A* grades, two As and one B.
He said: "I am pleased with my results.
"It has been quite hard work to get here.
"I am pleased with my maths result – I got an A* and it is my best subject.
"The exams were very stressful and long, so I am pleased with how I did."
Jack noticed he was starting to lose his eyesight when he struggled to view the board at the front of a classroom when he was 11.
He was taken to Scunthorpe General Hospital and referred to Ryegate Children's Centre in Sheffield for further tests.
Within a month, he had completely lost his eyesight.
Jack said: "I was devastated when I started losing my eyesight.
"I just could not believe it and was upset a lot of the time."
Jack was diagnosed with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy, which is a condition that leads to a loss of central vision.
Jack's grandad Bill Rylatt, 72, of Bottesford, said: "We have traced the family tree and cannot find any family member who had the condition previously.
"It was a massive shock to the whole family because it is very rare for somebody Jack's age to get it."
Mr Rylatt said Jack initially found it difficult to adapt to losing his sight but had since excelled.
He said: "We were all so worried and the first few months were awful but as soon as he got the support he needed he started to progress rapidly.
"He learnt braille within a year and started doing a lot of sport.
"He turned something very sad into something positive and it is absolutely amazing to see him do so well.
"He is a bright lad and it staggers us all the time how well he does in every task.
"I am so proud of him and get very emotional when I see how well he is doing.
"His disability has not stopped him doing anything.
"He is up there with the best and I don't know how he does it.
"He is an inspiration to us all and has a great future ahead of him."
Jack is also a keen cyclist and regularly competes in national competitions.
He has vowed to further his education and will be going to New College Worcester, a national residential college for young people who are blind or partially sighted.
The college promotes independent living.
Jack said: "I am doing maths, business and science A-levels and am looking to go to university after that."
Retiring principal of Brumby Engineering College, Steve Cook, paid tribute to Jack, adding: "Jack's achievements are just phenomenal."
