THE community of Caia Park has shown real Christmas spirit by supporting a man who was left partially-sighted after being struck down with a stroke.

In February, forklift truck driver Carl Roberts, 55, suffered a stroke out of the blue that robbed him of his sight in he left eye and partially-sighted in the right.

The sudden disability has left Carl unable to do many of the things he enjoyed such as gardening, he is unable to drive or work, and it has had a detrimental impact on his mental health.

His partner Edna O'Hagan, who works at a Wrexham care home, has started a fundraising campaign to purchase life-changing smart glasses for Carl.

The Leader:

In the first 48 hours, the appeal raised more than £600 from friends and family in Caia Park.

Edna, 50, described the impact Carl's loss of vision has had on his day-to-day life.

Edna said: "Our life totally changed from that day simple things that you take for granted like going out, making meals watching TV are so hard. For example, when watching TV you can see and enjoy a movie but Carl can only see half of the screen. When walking around he can only see who or what is at the right side of him not the left. He as no vision in his left eye and lost the peripheral vision in his right eye. Since then he can no longer work, drive, or do gardening that he loved. He struggles to see what is in front of him."

But the Caia Park couples' hopes were raised after medical staff told about a pair of specialist glasses that could restore Carl's vision.

After being recommended by a consultant at the Maelor hospital, Carl was able to try a pair of the glasses for 45 minutes - and experience he described as "life changing".

Edna added: "It was a breakthrough!

"The hospital told us about these Oxsight glasses that may work for him. We had an assessment and they are amazing it was so lovely to see his face being able to look and see everyone’s faces, his own hands in front of him. The whole TV screen and what’s around it. Imagine looking in the mirror at yourself and only seeing half of you’re own face. With these glasses he can see everything that a fully-sighted person can see."

The powerful smart glasses are specially-designed for people with visual impairment and can extent the wearer's field of vision by up to 68 per cent - the only obstacle to the couple is the £4,000 price tag

She added: "We are lucky that only his sight has been affected by the stroke. But life is now a daily struggle to find a reason just to get out of bed.

With sight loss comes depression, anxiety and the questions why me what’s the point of living now. These amazing glasses can change that. But they come at a cost.

"Carl can no longer work. I work to keep us afloat a roof over our heads then when I’m home spend time trying to give Carl a purpose."

The fundraising appeal on Facebook has a target of £4,000 - in less that two days more than £600 had been raised, meaning that Carl can pay a deposit to secure a pair of the state-of-the-art vision aids.

Edna hopes that Carl will have his own pair of glasses early next year - "New Year, new start!"

She added that she was grateful that people on the estate had rallied to support the couple who, between them, have eight children and 15 grandchildren.

"Within 48 hours we have already raised £620 from friends and family in Caia Park", she said.

"We are so grateful it’s amazing how a community can support people. It’s close to Christmas, finances are tight and still people have donated."

To donate visit https://www.facebook.com/donate/436982530547007/