Back in 2017, a kind-hearted woman named Danielle Crull rescued a stray kitty from the woods of Pennsylvania.
Little did she know that this special cat would go on to change the lives of countless children, boosting their confidence in wearing glasses.
Meet Truffles, the feline fashionista famous for her stylish eyewear. Truffles teams up with her human mom, Danielle, who happens to be an optician.
Danielle runs her own practice, A Child’s Eyes, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, with a focus on children, particularly those in elementary school, toddlers, and infants.
Now, we all know how kids can feel about doctors, especially when it comes to eye exams. Some may have serious eye conditions or require surgeries, and that’s where Truffles steps in, becoming their furry hero.
As Danielle puts it:
“She is literally magical with little kids. It takes me at least half an hour to try and get to know them so they realize I’m not something to be afraid of, and Truffles will come strutting out from the back as if she knows exactly when I need her help.”
Truffles often hops up next to the child being examined, tilting her head so Danielle can put a pair of glasses on her. The transformation in the children’s mood is remarkable.
Fear dissipates, tears turn to laughter, and suddenly, trying on glasses becomes the coolest thing ever. Danielle describes the heartwarming scene:
“The story that happens over and over is a little one is crying, and she comes out and I put glasses on her, and they immediately stop crying and laugh and put their own glasses on. It happens countless times, and it’s just as sweet every single time.”
As for Truffles, wearing glasses is one of her favorite pastimes. Sometimes she even dozes off with them because she refuses to let Danielle take them off. Each day, she selects a new pair and proudly sports them. Danielle adds:
“If she had thumbs she would do it herself, she actually loves it! She can take them off whenever she wants, but a lot of times she chooses not to.”
However, Truffles is much more than a kitty with an accessory collection. Beyond helping kids, she aids Danielle in raising awareness about amblyopia, commonly known as the “lazy eye” condition.
It’s a childhood disorder where the nerve pathways between the eyes and the brain aren’t properly stimulated, causing one eye to work better than the other.
The treatment involves covering the stronger eye to strengthen the weaker one. But imagine how challenging it is for kids to wear an eyepatch. Danielle explains,
“Wearing an eye patch isn’t easy for kids. One thing is glasses, but eye patches are a whole different thing. It’s more worry, more fear, more confusion.”
This is where, once again, Truffles comes to ease the way!
It’s not easy for children to muster the confidence to sport an eyepatch on their faces, but with Truffles leading the way, they find the courage. She proudly wears an eyepatch over one of her glasses, which makes a world of difference to the kids.
Since this began, hundreds of parents from around the world have expressed their gratitude on Instagram. Danielle says:
“Truffles wearing a patch is a very big deal. She makes kids feel more confident about wearing their patches, and that’s something I am very passionate about. This makes a real impact in these kids’ lives every day.”
If you want to see more of Truffles and her incredible work, check out her Instagram profile.
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