[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8059]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                     TRIBUTE TO JENNIFER ROTHSCHILD

 Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I wish today to honor Jennifer 
Rothschild, a fellow Missourian, who recently received the Foundation 
Fighting Blindness' Hope and Spirit Award. This award recognizes the 
people who inspire all of us because of their ability to see literally 
beyond their vision loss. The award honors the uniquely human qualities 
that advance the mission of the foundation, and ultimately, the 
betterment of society.
  Jennifer Rothschild is a remarkable individual who inspires people to 
rise above their challenges, aspire for the extraordinary, and live 
life to the fullest just as she has done.
  Jennifer lost her slight after being diagnosed with a rare, 
degenerative eye disease. Retinal degenerative diseases affect more 
than 10 million people in the United States alone, and millions more 
worldwide. This loss of vision was more than a turning point for 
Jennifer who had dreams of becoming a commercial artist and cartoonist. 
However, she soared above that challenge and found a new path.
  Jennifer is now a mother, author, speaker, pianist and role model for 
all those who face challenges. She carries her story and message of 
encouragement across the country. In a ``Good Morning America'' 
interview for her latest of six books, Jennifer said ``If I chose to 
let blindness be my enemy I would be fighting it my whole life. Maybe 
this was God's way of giving me a really great gift in a really 
difficult package.'' It is that optimism and her amazing talent that 
inspired me the evening she received her Hope and Spirit Award.
  I congratulate Jennifer on this latest achievement and look forward 
to her great work in the future.

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