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Eye Know – Do You? Podcast
Season two
Eye Know – Do You? is back for season 2 with new and remarkable stories from people in the inherited retinal disease community. Over the course of season 2, new host Tucker Dupree, a four-time Paralympic medalist and motivational speaker, will look back at both the harrowing and empowering moments that shaped his own life. We’ll also hear from others in the IRD community.
Episode 5: Mary Lou Johnson Evans, the Motivated Mother
When her son was six years old, Mary Lou Johnson Evans decided to have her son genetically tested for an IRD, despite showing no symptoms. With a family history of IRDs, Mary Lou knew the sooner she could prepare her son with information and tools to take on a life with vision loss the better. Tune in to hear how Mary Lou’s preparedness got her son the tools he needed.
Episode 4: April Lufriu, the Empowered Mother and Competitor
April is back with the second part of her journey. As a mother of two young children with an inherited retinal disease and living with the same disease herself, April was empowered to raise awareness of inherited blindness. A life-long caretaker for others, hear how April persisted in her efforts to become Mrs. America and travel the world speaking on behalf of her family’s diagnosis and the importance of access to genetic testing.
Episode 3: April Lufriu, the Prepared Patient
When former Mrs. America April Lufriu’s sister Melissa was diagnosed with Retinitis pigmentosa at just 19 years old, April poured her heart into advocating for her sister’s care. Hear how April’s sister’s diagnosis prepared her – and didn’t – for her own and her children’s diagnoses and genetic testing journey two decades later.
EPISODE 2: TUCKER DUPREE, THE SWIMMER WITH LIMITLESS VISION
Tucker Dupree is back to share part two of his story. With his sight disappearing and bits of independence fading away, Tucker enrolled in a local school for the blind where he met a Paralympic runner who changed his perspective on his future as a swimmer. Here he discusses how is journey didn’t stop at a genetic diagnosis – what came next was bigger than he ever imagined.
EPISODE 1: TUCKER DUPREE, THE DETERMINED TEENAGER
Four-time Paralympic medalist and motivational speaker Tucker Dupree shares how his determination to be a collegiate swimmer became a search for answers after he began losing his sight. Listen to Tucker as he reflects on his personal journey and how genetic testing solidified a diagnosis that changed the trajectory of his life.
SEASON ONE
Join Danelle Umstead, blind Paralympic alpine skier and host of Eye Know – Do You?, as she shares stories from the inherited retinal disease community on the importance of genetic testing. The stories highlight the courage, hope and ambition of those living with inherited retinal diseases, their families and their health care professionals.
EPISODE 4: DR. CHRIS MOEN, THE IMPASSIONED DOCTOR AND ADVOCATE
Advocate and former emergency room physician Dr. Chris Moen started losing his sight at a young age, driving his passion for medicine and helping others with inherited retinal diseases. Originally diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at a young age, hear how genetic testing unveiled not only his own true genetic diagnosis, but an accurate diagnosis for 20 other family members.
EPISODE 3: DR. ELIAS TRABOULSI, THE GENETICS-FOCUSED OPHTHALMOLOGIST
Cleveland Clinic’s Dr. Elias Traboulsi dives deep into the evolution of genetic testing technology and what it means for people with inherited vision loss. Dr. Traboulsi is Head of the Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Director of the Center for Genetic Eye Diseases at Cleveland Clinic’s Cole Eye Institute.
EPISODE 2: MEGHAN DEBENEDICTIS, THE ENLIGHTENED GENETIC COUNSELLOR
As a certified genetic counselor and coordinator at Cleveland Clinic, Meghan DeBenedictis has helped hundreds of people with inherited retinal diseases understand the true meaning of their genetic diagnosis. Here she discusses how genetic testing has changed not only the perspective of her patients, but also evolved her own professional approach.
EPISODE 1: DANELLE UMSTEAD, THE BLIND PARALYMPIAN
Former Dancing with the Stars contestant and blind Paralympic athlete Danelle Umstead shares how genetic testing confirmed her inherited retinal disease diagnosis. Listen in to hear her journey spanning the Paralympic Games, dance floor and genetic testing advocacy.
