I knew there was something special about Amy the moment I laid eyes on her. As I was exiting the subway platform on 66th street in New York City, I noticed a visually-impaired woman using a guide stick. When I offered her my arm, she gladly accepted.
I came to learn her name was Amy Berg. Amy and I exchanged stories as we walked arm-in-arm; I told her I work at The View as the social media coordinator; she told me she's a baker and runs her own cookie business based in Brooklyn called Amy's Cookies.
It's been over a year since I first met Amy, and she and I still meet for coffee every few weeks. Each time I meet her I feel refreshed. While Amy can't see me as well as I can see her, I know she sees me, despite the fact she's almost blind. I don't know if it's due to a fresh jolt of caffeine or Amy's passion for life--but when I'm with Amy, I can see the light.
Amy has been progressively losing her sight for years and meets with a therapist who's been helping her cope with losing her vision. Despite her disability, Amy hasn't been thwarted from doing what she loves -- running her cookie business -- Amy's Cookies. Amy's motto?
"A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand."
Though Amy has a disease called retinitis pigmentosa -- a degenerative eye disease that causes severe visual impairment -- she still manages to run her cookie company. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2015, only 17.5 percent of individuals who have a disability were employed. Fighting against this statistic, Amy -- with about 10 employees and the sweetest recipes -- is determined to take her business to the next level by opening a storefront in Brooklyn.
Please consider helping Amy's vision come to fruition. There's nothing more satisfying than making someone's dream come true: gofundme.com/2gpxzw4
NOTE: The day after I met Amy, she sent me a surprise package with cookies as a thank you taking her to get coffee. I'm not sure what was sweeter: her cookies or the note.
