Ben Pierce was born prematurely and only weighed one pound and six ounces. According to USA Today, his eyelids were fused shut at birth, which has caused vision problems that have gotten worse as he's gotten older. Eventually, he will become completely blind. But with the help from family, friends and even strangers, the 9-year-old is trying to see everything he can.
Ben's family joined together to make a bucket list of everything he wants to see. His mother, Heidi, told HuffPost Live's Alyona Minkovski that it started with his brother and sister donating their allowance and then spiraled into a whole community offering whatever they can.
"It has been everything from sweet kids who've contacted us through their parents and said, 'Can we donate our allowance to help Ben’s wishes come true?' -- all the way up through some of the companies that were on his wish list," Heidi said.
Ben has been busy visiting places as simple as a water tower to the more exciting destinations of LEGOLAND and NASA. Heidi said the support he's receiving is really helping him cope with losing his sight.
"It’s tough. It’s a lot to wrap your mind around for a 9-year-old kid," Heidi said. "I think that this outpouring of support and the sweet messages that he has been getting and postcards from around the world, I think it’s really helping him cope and see some of the amazing brights spots and all the kindness that has been coming through the situation."
Check out Ben's inspirational story in the video above.