Blindness didn’t stop Mansfield Legacy sophomore from cheer, gymnastics, helping others
Rylea Fields is only 15 years old, yet she’s accomplished more than most people twice her age.
A role model for younger girls, Fields has a lot on her plate, on and off the campus of Mansfield Legacy, where she’s a sophomore. But all of that was put into jeopardy when she lost her eyesight in November.
Fields never had a problem with her sight, never wore glasses or contacts and has always had 20/20 vision, but on Nov. 1 while attending the Legacy football game as a member of the school’s Bronco Brigade, something wasn’t right.
Nothing major — just some cold weather and asthma — so Fields took some medicine and went to bed that night.
However, upon waking up the next morning, both of her eyes were completely swollen.
“My parents had me put cold presses on. I had a headache, but still went to my cheer practices on Saturday and Sunday,” said Fields, who participates in competitive cheer and is on the cheerleading team at Legacy. “My vision was very blurry and I was having a hard time seeing. Little did I know my optic nerve was swelling and cutting off blood flow to my eye.”
The UIL spirit state championships will run Thursday through Saturday at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Legacy will be there while Fields will be in Indianapolis for competitive cheer.
Azle was the only area school to win a state title last season in the co-ed competition. Nine schools will be crowned on Saturday from Class 6A through Class 1A.
Things got worse
Following the week of the game, Fields was legally blind with 20/800 vision and sent to a retinal specialist.
“When you hear those words ‘your daughter is legally blind’ you’re in a state of shock,” said mother Lisa Fields, whose father was also legally blind. “You wonder how this could happen. How she could see one day and be blind the next? I wondered how she would manage school, manage her activities, manage her life.”
Fields was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (loss of cells in the retina), something her grandfather also had, but that wasn’t causing her visual impairment. She was referred to a Neuro Ophthalmologist and spent over 12 hours running tests.
“It was the first day that I missed school, but I just continued my normal routine,” Fields said. “The Neuro Ophthalmologist informed us that I had Optic Neuropathy (damage to the optic nerve) and said that my vision would be restored, but couldn’t tell us exactly when or if it would be fully restored.”
Empathetic Heart
Fields always thought of others first.
When she was a little girl, she’d watch commercials of starving children or people in need and go around the neighborhood asking for donations.
In the second grade, Fields started Rylea’s Ribbons after hearing about a girl who had been homeless speak about being envious of girls with cute clothes and matching hair bows.
That same year, she began donating Rylea’s Ribbons to Mansfield’s Chili’s for their St. Jude Drive.
“I’ve been doing these things for nine or so years and it just became apart of my life,” Fields said. “I’m an only child and my parents were raised in small towns and were brought up doing things for others and their communities.”
Along with cheer, Fields is a gymnast, dresses up as Princess Aurora (from Sleeping Beauty) for a 5-year old girl (who is fighting muscular myopathy), delivers Christmas gifts to Assisted Living and rings the bell for the Salvation Army. She’s also Student Body Historian and despite being Dyslexic, she continues to be on the honor roll at school.
At 12, Fields won her second national title through the America’s National Teenager Scholarship Organization and was voted pre-teen pageant queen.
“She’s our one and only and we are proud parents for sure,” Lisa said.
“I think we’re all given talents and things we’re good at and we should share those things with others,” Rylea added. “That’s why we’re here. If we can make life better for others, put a smile on someone’s face and keep the fairytale alive for someone, it’s what we should do.”
Road to Recovery
Her vision eventually returned, but only after a month.
It terrified her and her family.
“Our focus quickly shifted from shock to okay, let’s figure this thing out, not give up until we do and keep living our lives,” Lisa said. “I just knew in my heart that our sweet Rylea, who has always blessed so many others, was going to be okay. I knew she was strong, but watching how she handled this entire thing was beautiful.”
“I’d be lying if I said that going from perfect vision to complete blindness wasn’t scary. It was. I am 15 years old,” Rylea added. “I am a very busy girl and how can I do all those things if I can’t see? But I did. I didn’t know what else to do. I just continued on, as if I could still see.”
Fields managed to fulfill all her responsibilities at school, including a video for her American Sign Language class, and on the side during her month of blindness.
“Just because my vision had changed didn’t mean my life had to,” Fields said. “I still had expectations to live up to and meet. I wasn’t going to let others or myself down. I’m not saying it was easy. It was far from it. I may not have been able to see, but my light can still shine.”
Added Lisa, “We never knew she would actually go blind. But I will say that she stayed focused on what she needed to do. She just continued the same routine as if nothing was happening. Her friends, teachers and coaches were amazing.”
On Nov. 29, her vision improved to 20/80, and then 20/30 three days later.
Fields finally returned to 20/20 vision on Dec. 30.
“I still have bouts of blurriness caused by eye spasms and some peripheral issues at times, but those things should hopefully subside,” she said. “So for the most part, I’m back to normal. Never let anything stand in your way of living your life the way you want.”
“She has always been so helpful and understanding and her heart has always gone out to those with disabilities. After this experience, she said she has an even greater respect and understanding,” added Lisa, “It was a tough time and we feel very blessed that she has come out on the other side with vision restored. It’s wonderful to see your child maintain strong faith, focus, strength and persevere.”
This story was originally published January 16, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
