LUBBOCK, Texas — A heartwarming moment between a mother and her one-year-old daughter has captured the attention of millions online. When Jasmine Sepeda placed new pink glasses on her daughter Charlie Rose, the little girl saw her mother’s face clearly for the first time. It was a moment Sepeda knew she would never forget.
“As a mother, it’s hard to describe the feeling of knowing your child can see clearly for the first time,” Sepeda said.
Sepeda filmed the moment, and later shared the video on TikTok. The clip quickly went viral, touching the hearts of viewers worldwide. “They don’t even know me, and they’ve said the sweetest things,” Sepeda said of the reactions.
The journey to this milestone began in January 2024, just a few months after Charlie was born. A nurse practitioner noticed that Charlie lacked the red reflex in her eyes—a common sign seen when light is shone into the eyes or when taking a photo. Initially, doctors suspected Retinoblastoma, a type of childhood cancer. While the diagnosis was ruled out, Charlie underwent six medical procedures to address hemorrhaging behind her eyes, a partial retinal detachment, and a cataract.
Throughout the treatments, Sepeda knew her daughter was struggling to see clearly. “It’s so scary because all you want is for your child to see your face. We take our vision for granted,” she said.
By Wednesday, after completing most of her treatments, Charlie was wearing her new glasses and could finally see her toys—and her mom—clearly. “A year later, she can see all the things that we’ve seen,” Sepeda said.
Now, Sepeda is using her experience to raise awareness for other parents. She encourages them to check for the red reflex in their babies’ eyes and to be vigilant about their children’s eye health.
“Babies can’t talk, and they can’t tell us what’s wrong,” she said. “It’s important for us as parents to pay attention to the little things.”
Sepeda is especially grateful to the nurse practitioner who first noticed the issue with Charlie’s eyes, as well as to the medical professionals who helped restore her daughter’s vision. Though Charlie still has an upcoming appointment to address some pressure in her right eye, she is mostly able to live her life normally.
“God was always going to be good,” Sepeda said.
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