By Raymond Thompson
Lori Pierce is a fighter. Born premature, she lost her sight in the first few days of her life when her retinas were damaged from receiving too much oxygen in the attempt to save her life.
Her condition– called retinopathy of prematurity — left her visually impaired, but not without resolve.
Lori has some vision. She can see light and shadows and some color. On a good day, she can see the shapes of people walk towards her. The higher the contrast the light outside, the more she can see. That means at night she cannot see at all.
That hasn’t stopped her from taking on judo, a sport she encountered as a 15-year-old after she attended a sports camp for blind and visual impaired children. She had the feeling that judo could take her places. She had no idea that it would take her around the world.
Lori has competed in blind judo tournaments in France, Brazil, Canada, and Italy. She won a silver medal in the Paralympics in the 2004 games in Athens, Greece. She was the first woman representing the United States to medal in judo.
Lori is a senior psychology major at the University of Texas at Austin. The university environment can be challenging to average student, who must juggle class work, a social life, and other activities that place huge demands on their time. Lori faces extra challenges that the typical university student does not have to consider. Transportation, translating books into an accessible form, and dealing with basic chores like grocery shopping all require more time.
I nearly fell out of my chair when the photo of Lori doing judo came up – awesome photo Ray. A very brave young lady clearly, also, how any one after seeing those photos could still not be a dog lover, baffles me. A moving and inspiring set of photos about a stirring story.
As the Co-Founder of the Blind Judo Foundation, I had the privilage of meeting Lori in 2003. She was preparing for the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens as a member of the US Paralympic (not to be confused with Special Olympics) Judo Team. Not only being an awesome athlete, she is also very modest about her accomplishments including winning the Silver Medal for the USA at the Athens Games and other Judo accomplishments. She is also recognized by the US Marine Corps as a Warrior. Her determination and drive are an inspiration to blind and visually impaired individuals and the sighted community alike. With her loving and supportive family her future is very bright.
Let me tell you all something! Lori, she’s my cousin and that girl is an absolute inspiration to us all! She is amazing! When she visits us in Bama, it will be yrs! Right? She goes about Grandma’s house like nothing! I mean, I don’t pay much attention like I did when I was little because I was so “intrigued” but I do watch from time 2 time in amazement! She doesn’t have to have Lola with her as much as anyone would think. Lola is family and she takes a vacation just the same as the whole family! I love talk with Lori! So intelligent and it’s sorta funny. She talks like Ultra Fast! I love to hear of her day to day routine in Tx & am in awe of her because she lives so far away from the rest of the family! By choice, she left the comfort of home to follow her dreams! She has never, ever let anything hold her back! From the time she was 2, I remember that child being Miss Independent. Nobody treated her any different like some would think. I do not think she would have had it and it just wasn’t like that! I do not know of anything she could not do along with us! My Daddy, I remember to this day him coming in amazed at her telling how they were all outside playing Basketball! Yes, Lori was too! And believe me,it’s an amazing thing to watch! She doesn’t play like u would picture someone with no sight playing! The girl had moves and well, like the Judo, nothing holds Lori back! Nothing! So proud of you Lori!
Hey! That’s me being tossed around! When she had a hold of my sleeve or lapel, I knew was done for. Great story, glad I could learn the background.