Teen Girl Shares Her Bucket List Before Completely Losing Her Sight – Here's What's Inside

As time slips away, a brave 13-year-old girl from the UK races to capture a lifetime of memories before a cruel genetic disorder robs her of her sight forever.

Thirteen-year-old Audrey Tyrrell, from the UK, is bravely documenting the places and moments she wants to see before she loses her sight forever.

Diagnosed at just 10 years old with Usher syndrome, a rare and cruel genetic condition that causes progressive vision and hearing loss, Audrey has launched a powerful mission with her family. She aims to capture a lifetime of memories while she still can.

Appearing recently on "This Morning," Audrey shared her journey alongside her mother, Tracey. The emotional segment highlighted Audrey's diagnosis, the "visual bucket list" she created, and the support that's rallying around her dream to see the world before it's too late.

A Diagnosis That Shattered Their World

Audrey calmly explained that Usher syndrome is stealing her vision slowly, creeping in "at a glacially slow rate." She first noticed something wasn't right when she realized she struggled to see in the dark, unlike everyone else. Concerned, her parents sought medical advice, only to be hit with devastating news.

Audrey has been deaf since birth. Her hearing loss was discovered at just two weeks old during a newborn screening. She was diagnosed with bilateral sensory neural hearing loss and fitted with hearing aids at only six weeks.

But Audrey says they don't slow her down at all. She compared them to glasses, adding she often forgets she's even wearing them.

Tracey revealed that Audrey has Usher syndrome type two. Both she and her husband unknowingly carried the faulty gene, and Audrey inherited both copies. Of their four children, only Audrey was affected.

In another cruel twist, Audrey's father is also visually impaired, though he does not have Usher syndrome. He carries a defective USH2A gene, one of the known causes of the condition.

Doctors have no way of telling when Audrey will go completely blind. With no set timeline and no cure, the Tyrrells made a heartbreaking decision to embrace the time they have and help Audrey build a lifetime of visual memories before her vision slips away.

A List of Sights to See Before Darkness Falls

Determined to take control of her fate, Audrey created a handwritten visual bucket list, a vibrant document filled with experiences and destinations she hopes to cherish while she still has time.

She estimates the list will take 10 to 20 years to complete. During the interview, the hosts displayed the colorful list, lovingly crafted with bright pens and big dreams.

Audrey has already ticked off several major items. She stood before the Eiffel Tower in Paris, though she skipped the top floor due to a fear of heights. She watched Taylor Swift perform live, describing it as unforgettable. She also traveled to Cornwall to eat a Cornish pasty, which she called "delicious," and stood in awe at Stonehenge.

Though she dreams of seeing a rainforest, her fear of snakes and spiders kept her cautious. Instead, she visited the Eden Project, where she experienced a rainforest-like environment without the creepy crawlies. She also visited a cat café with friends for a birthday outing, calling it a fun and quirky way to start checking off her list.

Television Team Turns Dreams Into Reality

The "This Morning" team went one step further. Knowing Audrey dreamed of staying in a castle, the show reached out to Hever Castle, which offered the family a stay in one of its historic rooms.

Then came the big one — the Statue of Liberty. Audrey's wish to see the iconic American landmark touched hearts. Virgin Atlantic stepped in, organizing a premium flight and three-night stay at Virgin Hotels in New York City for Audrey and her family.

Audrey also happens to be a devoted fan of the Netflix series "Stranger Things". Though it wasn't originally on her list, producers surprised her with tickets to the West End production "Stranger Things: The First Shadow". In a heartfelt moment, actress Nell Fisher appeared live to hand-deliver the news.

Capturing Every Moment on Instagram

Audrey's story lives on beyond TV. Her family created an Instagram account, @audreys_visual_memories, where they share updates as Audrey works through her list, one visual memory at a time.

Their first post revealed her diagnosis in March 2023. At that stage, the only sign of vision loss was night blindness. But the family knew what was coming and made a pact to make her dreams come true.

Another post explains the science behind Usher syndrome. The condition leads to hearing loss, gradual blindness, and sometimes balance issues, all caused by retinitis pigmentosa, a retinal disease that typically starts with night blindness, followed by tunnel vision.

A Mother's Grief, Pride, and Hope

Many of the posts reflect Tracey's inner world as a mother fighting a battle she cannot win. "Yesterday I revisited some of the emotions I felt upon Audrey's diagnosis, the grief, the heartache, the uncertainty, thoughts of her future, the impact on her wellbeing, and so much more," she stated. "As I sit here in the quiet this morning, my loud thoughts are ones of pride, joy, happiness, and hope."

The heartbreak is raw. One post shares a nighttime moment of vulnerability, "Tomorrow already feels so heavy. My baby girl just came downstairs from her bed, crying, asking what she'll do if they tell her tomorrow that she's started losing her sight."

Another mourned a simple but crushing loss, "The first thing Audrey has lost is her ability to see stars." One entry detailed the hidden daily struggles Audrey faces, like difficulty with darkness, challenges in crowds, avoiding hazards, and navigating social situations. On the surface, she may seem like any other child, but behind her smile lies a very different world.

To help fund the life-changing experiences Audrey deserves, the Tyrrells launched a GoFundMe. The fundraiser explains that Audrey was diagnosed on March 14, 2023, and that her visual list came exactly one year later. As of the latest update, the fundraiser has exceeded its goal, with more than £1,100 raised from 34 donations.

Audrey still has major dreams to chase. The trip to see the Statue of Liberty is now planned, but the rest of her bucket list remains long and filled with wonder. She knows it may take years to complete, but her spirit remains unshaken.

From national television to social media, Audrey's story is a stirring portrait of a girl determined not to be defined by a diagnosis. Her visual bucket list is more than a wish. It's a declaration that she will live with purpose, see with intention, and never let go of hope.