The Butterfly House, located on a quiet residential street in Pacific Grove, CA, was once a simple, nondescript, dwelling for a man and his beloved wife.

J, as the man prefers to be called, and his bride, Sonja, lived quietly - engaged in their respective occupations, taking care of daily duties, spending time with a small circle of friends ... living much like you and I live today.

One day, in the early 1990's, everything changed. Sonja was losing her eyesight - rapidly. The doctor's prognosis was eventual blindness. Facing the inevitable was a daunting challenge for the normally "cheery" couple.

In China, the word "crisis" is made of two characters: danger and opportunity. It was at this decisive point that J and Sonja stood so many years ago. How they faced and dealt with this crisis has inspired journalists, worldwide visitors, a multitude of wide-eyed children, and a host of photographers as well.

Below is an editorial with connecting story from the editor of one of the region's most exemplary magazines: CARMEL.

THE WE IN EYE
by Scott Brown; photography Kelli Uldall
Carmel Magazine

Some people live their life stories far better than they can be written. Such is the case for J and Sonja Jackson, who are profiled in the story "The Butterfly House" (Winter Issue - 2005)

When Sonja was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa - a group of inherited eye diseases that affect the retina and causes the degeneration of one's vision - she was told by her doctors that bright colors would be the easiest for her to see ... read further