By Monique Butterworth
Pictures: Paul Broben. Hair and Make-up: Christian Alexander.
The star we fell in love with on Big Brother is thrilled she’s pregnant against the odds, but in a tragic turn, her vision is fading fast.
As their little two-year-old daughter Mia excitedly blows out the candles on her Wiggles birthday cake, Regina “Reggie” Sorensen and husband Dale have double reason to celebrate.
The popular 2003 Big Brother winner is pregnant with their second baby, a miracle the couple feared may never happen after Reggie suffered a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy just over 12 months ago.
But their smiles are bittersweet, as the baby who’s bringing the family such joy appears to be making Reggie’s remaining vision deteriorate rapidly. “I feel my eyes are getting worse. I’m not sure if it’s the hormones but they’re getting worse,” says Reggie, who suffers from retinitis pigmentosa.
Now legally blind with the degenerative eye condition, she can no longer drive a car, has no peripheral vision and is completely blind at night.
“I do worry more and more about how I am going to be in the future,” she says. “I’m beginning to think I’m definitely going to be blind sooner than I think.”
It’s a fear shared by Reggie’s devoted husband Dale.
“After the pregnancy with Mia, Regina’s eyes got worse, and now it’s happening again,” reveals the 36-year-old fire-fighter. “During the day, Regina can’t see Mia sometimes when she’s standing right next to her. She says ‘Where’s Mia gone?’ And she’ll be literally right next to her. And it’s a little bit of a worry what it’ll be like for her carrying the new baby around because Mia leaves toys everywhere and Regina is constantly tripping over them.”
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