Jason, a now avid runner, receives the devastating news of a retinitis pigmentosa diagnosis which will eventually cause him to lose his sight. It slowly took away the freedoms of a normal life–the ability to drive…to work. He saw running as an opportunity to push himself and overcome the challenges that his onset blindness had brought on. This StoryCorps recording includes Jason and his daughter, Sofia, and they recount the journey of Jason telling his daughter that he was going to be the first blind man to run across the country. Jason had a tough road ahead (pun intended). The heartwarming aspect of the story, though, comes in as Jason shares how Sofia was faithful to call him every day while he was pursuing this goal. This casual conversation between father and daughter allows the listener to feel like they are a part of their story.
Listening to the StoryCorps episode on Pak Yan and Joe Chan, I felt as if I was sitting down with friends reminiscing on the good old days. At least at first. Then the story changes its tone as the friends discuss the way they were separated and unsure if they would ever reconnect. Years later, through a series of unique circumstances and a lot of phone calls to Joe Chan’s in the United States, the two friends find each other again. The story ends on a sweet note about the value of a priceless friendship.