Close your eyes and imagine not being able to open them again. Think about relying on a seeing eye dog for grocery shopping, folding clothes, crossing the street, and exercising at the gym. How would it make you feel if someone recognized your daily struggle and offered to help? Open your eyes and picture the gift that Othello 4-H members and leaders gave to Johnny Villarreal.

Johnny was born a twin. He was three months premature, weighing two pounds, nine ounces. Johnny lived in an incubator for his first 45 days so he could grow stronger, but he had no vision in his left eye (which was replaced with a prosthesis) and only limited sight in his right eye. When he grew up, Johnny developed cataracts. “I didn’t notice a difference until 1999, when it started to get more dim,” Johnny explained. “When I really started to notice was in 2005. I could no longer ride a bike; my vision just wouldn’t cooperate and things came up on me too fast.”

By 2007 Johnny could no longer watch television. He describes his vision at that time as dark and blurry, like looking through a glass of muddy water. He enrolled in the Seeing Eye Program in Morristown, New Jersey. This is where he met Ivan, a seeing eye dog 4-H project. Ivan became Johnny’s eyes. “A good working dog—they do it with all they have!” Johnny said with admiration. Ivan and Johnny made a great team for several years.

Janelle Andersen, an Othello 4-H leader in Top Cut Ranchers, knew Johnny through her business, Anytime Fitness. She had watched him put Ivan on a sit-stay command, and then feel his way along the wall to the exercise equipment. She marveled at his positive attitude and surviving spirit. She began to visit with him about the possibility of cataract surgery. His greatest barrier was finances. Janelle went to the Area Six Leader’s Council meeting to explain the situation. They wanted to help. Several Grant and Adams Area 4-H clubs rallied to raise money for Johnny’s eye surgery. They made it happen. Johnny says, “I’m very thankful. A lot of this would not have been possible without people like Janelle Andersen. It is amazing and really touching to have them be there for someone like me… I’ve been lucky. I’ve always had good people around me.”

The surgery was successful. Johnny’s original eyesight returned and he no longer needed Ivan’s help. He felt that Ivan was such a good guide dog that it would be unfair not to share that special talent.“I decided giving him back was the best thing, so somebody can use him to his full potential. If he could continue working with someone else, that would make me happy.” Johnny has since accepted a full-time job and moved out of Washington. The generosity of the Othello 4-H clubs using their heads, hearts, hands, and health really did help to “make the best better.”

This article was made possible by Diane Russo (WSU Extension 4-H Youth Development),
Janelle Andersen (Anytime Fitness), Celeste Green (4-H leader and photographer),
members of Area Six 4-H clubs, The Othello Independent, and Johnny Villarreal.