As the mother and primary caregiver of a severely autistic child, even something as routine as an eye exam for myself becomes incredibly complicated. It takes planning, backup plans, and usually respite care - which isn’t always easy to find. Because my license was expiring and DMV appointments were booked months out, I was in a tough spot. My regular optometrist was also fully booked, and I felt stuck. On a whim, I called Russell Eyecare and spoke with Teri. She was so kind and understanding. Even though there were no appointments available, she took the time to listen and promised to call if anything opened up. Less than 24 hours later, she called me back with an opening that same week. I let her know I would need to bring my children, including my autistic son, and she reassured me that it would be completely fine. When we arrived, my son was having a very challenging day. Sitting still for an eye exam was simply not going to happen. That’s when Mel stepped in. She immediately recognized how overwhelmed I was and gently took over caring for both of my children so I could focus on my appointment. What she did went so far beyond anything I could have expected - it brought me to tears right there in the office. Mel is truly an angel on Earth. The compassion, patience, and support shown by the entire team at Russell Eyecare meant more to me than I can fully express. Thank you, Teri and Mel, for your kindness and for making something so difficult feel possible. You have no idea how much that meant to me.
