Powering through sight setbacks

MILAN TWP. — The differences were noticeable for Kendall Warthling in the classroom. She was diagnosed with what is called a vision refraction in the second grade. She described it as her eyes not working with her brain correctly. With the diagnosis came doctors, accommodations and therapy. One of her accommodations was to have larger worksheets in comparison to what her classmates had on their desks. "It made me feel out of place," Kendall said. "I remember in third grade, my papers were really big. Everyone thought of me differently and it was hard, especially being young." Through the years after her diagnosis, Kendall was able to improve herself. She still manages headaches and has therapy, but the therapy is less frequent. Rather than regular visits, she now has checkups and wears glasses. "Other than that, I couldn't be better," said Kendall, who also graduated from Western Reserve High School earlier this month. Kendall is years away from her original diagnosis and the feeling of being out of place. She recently completed EHOVE Career Center's firefighter/EMT program. As she walked across the stage, she had supporters like her father, Charlie Warthling. "It's been a long road with the occasional setbacks, but she's powered through," Charlie said. Charlie is an assistant director at the career center and is the reason she decided to pursue the firefighter/EMT program. Charlie and other relatives have also worked in first responder careers. Charlie said he and Kory Warthling, Kendall's mom, are proud of her accomplishments. He said it's sad to watch her leave the campus he works at, but it's been a nice three years with her there. During her time at the career center, Kendall was active in its ambassador program, where she acts as a representative for her program and informs the community about what goes on within her program. Kendall does not plan to go far from her roots in EHOVE. This summer, she will be enrolled in the career center's adult education certified nursing assistant program, then its practical nursing program in the fall.