Dancing in the dark
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Like many teenage girls, Krystal Benoit and Amber Meaux started planning for the prom three months ago.
Boys at their school asked to be their dates, and they each found dresses they loved.
When the evening of the prom finally arrived, Amber, 15, sat patiently while her long brown hair was styled by a school staff member.
Meanwhile, Krystal, 16, chatted away on her bed, showing anyone and everyone the blue beaded gown she planned to wear to the dance.
The only difference between Krystal and Amber and other teenage girls is that they are visually impaired.
But, on prom night, the girls are like teenagers everywhere.
Their prom was held May 1 in the auditorium at Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired, where the girls attend classes and live in dormitories on the campus.
Both girls have limited vision due to retinal blastoma. Retinal blastoma is a cancer in which the tumor is located in an eye.
Krystal said she has trouble seeing outdoors in the bright sunlight. At night, she can’t see at all, she said.
“The stuff I can’t see, they (school staff) describe it to me,” she said. “I know what glitter is like.”
Amber’s vision is even worse; she can see only shadows and light.
On prom night, Krystal’s bedroom became a hub of activity with girls running in and out talking about their dates, dresses and more.
“I’ve got a date but I’m still dancing with everybody,” Cyquotta Moore, 15, said.
Lounging on Krystal’s bed, she complained about the bobby pins holding her hair in a cute up-do.
The crowd grew as Brittany Scott, 16, asked to borrow some lotion and Rasheeta Williams, 13, fidgeted with the shawl accessorizing her dark blue dress.
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