CADET, Mo. — The heart of the story lies in the unwavering support provided by Paraprofessional Lauren Daugherty for a 7-year-old boy at Kingston Primary in Cadet, Missouri.
For the past two years, Mrs. Daugherty has been Gage's dedicated companion, ensuring he has a vision for success. Describing her role, she says, "I try and be as invisible as I can... adapting messages quietly to complement what he gets from the teachers."
The alliance between, Gage, legally blind due to congenital cataracts, and Mrs. Daugherty goes beyond expectations.
"You could see it in her face whenever Gage gets dropped off in the morning. She absolutely loves Gage just as much as we do," Gage's dad, Billy Bloomner said noting the genuine affection.
Although Gage is the first student ever in Christy Ward's vibrant first-grade class with a visual impairment, acceptance and inclusivity are present. Ward describes Gage as "a very spirited little guy, very inquisitive," highlighting the unique perspective he brings to the class.
Despite undergoing multiple eye surgeries, Gage faces an uncertain visual future.
"There's no guarantee that what vision he has, which is minimal, he'll even get to keep," Gage's mom, Jessica Bloomner said.
Mrs. Daugherty's dedication, rooted in her role as a mom, extends to her pursuit of learning braille alongside Gage. Jessica said, "She's now going to college to become a trained vision instructor, and there's such a need for those, especially in rural communities."
Mrs. Ward emphasizes the importance of care and trust in the learning environment: "Kids need to know that they're cared about, and she has definitely solidified that with him."
Mrs. Daugherty, with a gentle touch, guides Gage and his classmates toward a brighter, more inclusive tomorrow. She came up with Braille Day for the school, creating shirts for the teachers and giving all children the opportunity to see their names in Braille.
"They had me come down to the school and at first I didn't notice the shirts but then we passed the principal and I went does she have Braille on her shirt," Jessica said. " then I walked in and saw everyone had on the shirts that said be kind in Braille."
Mrs. Daugherty has also dedicated herself to learning Braille "so he would feel included."
"What he types, I have to put what the letters are above it, and if I can't put what's on there, his teacher of course can't see what he puts on his paper," she said.
Mrs. Daugherty shared that she also struggled in school.
"I became a para because I wanted to make a difference for at least one kiddo," she said.
As the corridors of compassion echo through Kingston Primary, Gage's journey becomes a testament to the power of acceptance, resilience, and the extraordinary impact of dedicated educators like Mrs. Daugherty.
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