I wish I had it as good as Robin does.  There is nothing that is going to stop him from doing the things he loves, even with something like being legally blind.

At ten years old, Robin Christian loves to play baseball, go skiing, swim, ride horses, dance, sing, go bike riding, go to concerts, and help out with the chores.  Of course, he does need some assistance (bike riding, skiing, baseball, swim, riding his horse, etc.), but whatever he does choose to do, he does it with gusto.

Robin has such an outgoing attitude.  He is always laughing or smiling; he is an inspiration to all who meet or know him.

And I am proud to be his father.

My name is Hank Tackett.  I am married to Becky, and we have two sons:  Trenton Daniel (13) and Robin Christian, who is ten, as mentioned above.  Trenton is healthy; Robin is too; the only issue he has is that he is nearly blind due to being born four months premature.  He weighed less than one pound (11 1/2 ounces, less than a foot long in length), and his sight was damaged due to all the extra oxygen they were giving him to help him breathe easier.

Robin spent six months in the Intensive Care unit, fighting to live.  By God's grace, he beat all the odds, but his eyesight was damaged.  It hurt us deeply that our youngest child would be blind for the rest of his life, but we were determined to give him a full life and help him through the rough patches as he learned to negotiate his way around.

Robin uses a cane to get around.  Sometimes if provoked, he will strike out at whoever is picking on him (we have been on the receiving end of his cane a time or two, and it was because we'd accidentally gotten in his way).  Other than that, he has a docile nature and is one of the sweetest youngsters you would ever want to meet.

Because he was born so early, Robin is the size of a six-year-old.  He is extremely tiny.  He can easily get lost in a sea of fifth graders if he wasn't more careful than he is.  He has learned to assert himself and can defend himself if necessary.

In September, the day after Labor Day, Robin will be in the sixth grade.  I pray he will have an easier year.  Last year some kids gave him no end of trouble. At times he came home from school, his small face wet with tears; our hearts broke when he relayed the information that some kids were calling him "Cloudy Eyes" or "Blindy-Boy".  It was heartbreaking to see him having to go through this.

Well, we are going to go swimming at the community pool, as it is in the upper eighties to near ninety, with blazing sunshine.  I will write in here again with more about Robin, Trent, Becky, and myself.  I hope you enjoyed getting to know our family, in particular, our youngest son, and why we feel he is so special to us.

Until later, take care and may God bless you always!

~Sincerely, Hank Tackett, San Antonio, Texas. :)