personal fundraiser

Jack Zito

Jack is standing next to a sign outside that says "Jack Attack" and lists the different things that Jack likes, including his favorite color, toy, and food.

Jack was born with mild to moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss at birth and fitted with hearing aids when he was a few months old. A few months later, the results of his genetic testing came back with the cause of this hearing loss. Jack is one of more than 25,000 people living in the United States with Usher syndrome.

Usher syndrome is a rare inherited condition but also the most common genetic cause of combined deafness and blindness. It impacts three major senses – vision, hearing, and balance. There are three subtypes. Jack has Type 2, which presents with hearing loss at birth and gradual vision loss. The vision loss begins with night blindness and slowly peripheral vision deteriorates, as well, until only central vision remains.

At the moment, there is not a cure for Usher syndrome but there is hope! We have teamed up with scientists around the world who are focusing their studies on the exact genetic mutation that causes Jack’s type of Usher syndrome (2C). Our goal is to save this spunky 4-year-old’s vision before it starts to deteriorate, and we would greatly appreciate any support you can provide! 

At the moment, there is not a cure for Usher syndrome but there is hope! We have teamed up with scientists around the world who are focusing their studies on the exact genetic mutation that causes Jack’s type of Usher syndrome (2C). Our goal is to save this spunky 4-year-old’s vision before it starts to deteriorate, and we would greatly appreciate any support you can provide!