Reality star Reggie Bird: I can hardly see my kids

With her sight slowly being stolen from her, the much-loved reality star is making the most of every minute.

She still has that trademark twinkle in her eyes, but sadly for Reggie Bird, the light is slowly fading. The vivacious 2003 Big Brother winner – now known as Reggie Sorensen, and the mother of two toddlers – is the first to admit she is in denial. But with the passing of each day, she is coming to grips with a tragic reality: she is going blind.

As if impending blindness isn’t a tough enough blow, Reggie, 37, and her fireman husband of three years, Dale Sorensen, have another medical crisis to deal with. Their 22-month-old son, Lucas, has been diagnosed with the incurable genetic disorder cystic fibrosis (CF), which affects the lungs, digestive tract and other organs.

“We were coping OK with Regina’s eyesight, thinking, ‘We can deal with this,’” explains Dale, 38. “Then we got the phone call about Lucas having cystic fibrosis. We couldn’t believe it. It does make you wonder, what have we done? It can’t be fair, can it?” Stoic Dale’s voice falters and trails off. He looks away to watch his precious Reggie doing what she loves best, being a high-spirited and loving mum. Reggie and Dale have invited Woman’s Day to join their family at their very favourite and most special of places, Dreamworld on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

Read more about the couple’s plans to move to Australia in this week’s Woman’s Day, on sale July 11, 2011.