I count it a blessing to know the girl in this photo, miss Laura Lawson. We go waaaaaay back to high school, and through the powers of social media, have stayed relatively connected and up-to-date on each other’s lives.
Laura is an artist, a lover of all things beautiful, a joy-seeker. She loves Jesus and has a contagious laugh. She’s a celebrity on Instagram. She’s the kind of girl you want to be friends with forever.
Laura is 25, and she is losing her sight.
She wrote a book about her journey, and it’s the best book I’ve read in quite some time. It was an equally heartbreaking and hopeful read (I read the whole book in an hour and a half and cried three separate times). If you’re looking for hope, inspiration, or just want to read a powerful story, I truly cannot recommend this book enough.
Okay, on to the interview….
A: Laura, you’re a PUBLISHED AUTHOR. That is incredible! How does it feel to have your story out in the world for all to read?
L: Completely surreal, and a little unnerving. But mostly exciting! From the first day I opened my laptop and began to type, I prayed that God would speak through me and that this book would point to Him and not myself. I believe He will be faithful to that prayer. The book is extremely intimate – I wrote things I have never told anybody before. It was a confession to the world of sorts. More so than wanting people to tell me I was so brave for sharing this story, I wanted them to see me as a flawed human being in need of grace.
A: You’ve been writing for a while, both for yourself and for various online publications. How was writing a book different for you? Take us through the process….
L: Writing a book is completely different than any other kind of writing, especially writing a memoir. To be honest, the most difficult part about writing Believing is Seeing was recounting the pain of what it felt like to be told I was losing my vision. I am so far past it that it felt fake. Whenever I would feel the tiniest sting of my vision loss (usually due to someone offering a high five and me not seeing it or something like that) I would run to my computer and get all the sad stuff out. Another challenging aspect to this journey was the editing process. What a humbling experience that was! Haha. The editors did a fantastic job and I am even more proud of this story due to their refining.
A: As I read your book, I felt like I was reading your personal diary. How did you work up the courage to share some of the thoughts that were so deeply personal?
L: As you know, I’ve been blogging about my eye disease for years now. My blog entries would always be something along the lines of sad story followed by humorous and hopeful anecdote. I’ve written so many times about the processing journey of accepting RP that I realized I had gotten stuck in a rhythm. No longer was I hoping for a cure. I had accepted the present and was growing numb to my need for God. As I wrote Believing is Seeing, I questioned my motives. God began to expose my heart to myself. And I decided to write as honestly as possible. Writing this book, a book about going blind, has been the most healing part of my journey thus far.
A: When people read this book, what is the one point, or one thought, you want them to walk away with?
L: I wrote Believing is Seeing not just for the blind and low vision community, but for anyone who struggles with faith through a difficult time. The point is not to tell the world to do what I did. I’m just one person. We all process differently. But hopefully there is something in my story that every human being can relate to, eyesight or no eyesight. Whatever that little nugget may be: hold onto it. Allow God to heal your own story in His timing. He so desperately wants to.
A: You’re 25. You wrote a book. What’s next for you?
L: Getting married this year to an amazing man (how great was that foreword he wrote?!), and continuing to get plugged into the art scene of Seattle. Art will always be my first love. But writing has certainly become a huge part of my life as well… maybe I’ll write another book!
Let’s hope so!
In the meantime, you can purchase Believing is Seeing here. Use promo code WMHR for 20% off (which makes it only $4!).
p.s. If you’re not familiar with Slimbooks, check out this video that explains the concept. You might be hearing a lot more about them from me in the months to come 
Pretty awesome, GO LAURA!
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Thank you Sarabell! Appreciate the kind words! xo
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I am so inspired!
Thanks Andi! Let me know what you think when you’re done reading!
Laura Lawson´s last [type] ..Believing is Seeing: Published!
Ashlee & Laura, thank you so much for sharing this. Laura, I can’t wait to read your book. I just purchased it for my Kindle, and can’t wait to dive in. I can already tell that your words will change my heart. Thank you!
Yay that is so great to hear! I pray God whispers to your heart through my words. Can’t wait to hear what you think
Laura Lawson´s last [type] ..Believing is Seeing: Published!
I’ll definitely have to read this because I’m familiar with retinitis pigmentosa: two of my uncles and my mom have RP. My uncles are legally blind now, but my mom is not! When she was diagnosed fifteen years ago, it progressively got worse and worse and then she made a huge change in her life, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. She let go of all the toxic people and things in her life, chose joy every day, changed her diet to clean eating, and miraculously her vision has not gotten any worse the past eight years. She still has tunnel vision and can’t see at night, but she’s grateful she can see well enough during the day. Laura, I wish and hope the same for you! Thanks for this wonderful interview and I’m looking forward to reading your book and sharing it with my mom!
Laura Marcella´s last [type] ..Monday Quote Day!
Thank you for the incredibly encouraging comment Laura! I actually recently went back into see my ophthalmologist for the first time since my diagnosis three years ago and she was shocked at how little my eyes had deteriorated. I also began to eat a lot healthier, exercise regularly, and change my mindset in terms of how God views healing – for more of that, check out the book
I’d love to hear what you and your mom think when you are done reading. Blessings to you both!
Laura Lawson´s last [type] ..Believing is Seeing: Published!
I loved this and am for sure going to be purchasing your book. My husband has choroideremia, a very rare eye disease where he slowly is loosing his sight, its advanced quite quickly and will be nice if he can get 3 more years out of his eyes (he’s turning 31 this year). He has always been night blind and his tunnel vision has been quite strong since he was 18. Anything I can read to try and help him understand what he is going through is amazing, especially with him being a man and ever so chatty (sarcasm). The high five comment in this interview made my heart ache because I know my husband relates to that and even when my siblings go to give him a high five they forget and feel dumb. I guess I am saying thank you so much for sharing.
Hi Lillian! I am familiar with choroideremia through attending quite a few conferences and events put on by the Foundation Fighting Blindness (I assume you’ve already checked them out but just in case, definitely visit their website – extremely helpful resources for the blind and visually impaired). My disease is similar although a different part of the eye is affected. My heart aches for your husband and the love and support you are wanting to show him. Please don’t hesitate to email me at lauraklawson@yahoo.com if you ever need prayer or someone to vent to. And I’d love to hear what you think about the book when you’re all finished. I will keep you and your husband in my prayers! Blessings to you both.
Laura Lawson´s last [type] ..Believing is Seeing: Published!