It's rewarding to raise a child, but it's tough too.  There are challenges at every turn.

What if your child had a disability?  What if he or she couldn't see?  Would you travel across the world if there was a chance to change that?  A Bolivar woman wants nothing more.

Austin Anderson is 10 years old.  He was born slightly autistic and with no vision.  He’s lived in darkness all of his life.

But Austin's mom, Kimberly, is determined to get her son to China for an umbilical stem cell transplant.  Not approved in the U.S., the treatment uses cells that are thought to be more versatile than adult stem cells.  Versatile enough to essentially rewire the optic nerve.

About a year ago, Dawn Barlett was raising money to do the same for her daughter, Rylea.  Born with the same condition as Austin, Rylea grew up in darkness until the trip to China changed everything.

“One week after her first one (treatment), she started reacting to light.” says Dawn.

Rylea and her mom spent a month there, made friends along the way and Dawn got a gift that, until now, she could only dream of.

“I got up in her face and saw my Mommy!” says Rylea.

Dawn says getting Rylea to actually use her vision is tricky.  She's used to reading Braille and feeing for objects.

The trip cost about $40,000 and Rylea will likely need to go back for more treatments. 

But as Dawn tells visitors to her website, she and her daughter have seen the light and don't intend to ever look back.

Here’s a breakdown of the costs.  It’s roughly $25,000 for the stem cells, plus airfare and hotel and such.  You stay there about a month, so it comes to about $40,000.

There is a fundraiser being held on Monday, October 29^th for Austin Anderson.  It’s at the Bolivar Pizza Hut from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Crews with the Central Polk Fire and Rescue will be waiting tables.  Donations for Austin can also be made to the Bank of Boliver for the Hope for Austin Fund.  For more information, you can go to Austin’s website.

To learn more about Rylea Bartlett, you can go to her website and click here for more information on the stem cells treatment in China and all the diseases doctors are treating using umbilical stem cells.

By the way, I got a call on Thursday from Carl Stevens from Garrision, Missouri.  He lost his sight after a medically induced coma.  He's going to the same hospital in China in December.  He’ll be the first adult in the entire world to receive the umbilical stem cells treatment.