Nearly a decade ago, Sharon Kay Thornton of Smithdale would takesome medicine to help her stay healthy. Doing just the opposite,the medication would send Thornton on a ride in the dark.

“Ten years ago, I never thought (my sight) would be taken fromme,” said Thornton. “I couldn’t get it in my head that a medicinecould do this to you.”

The medicine brought on a rare condition known asStevens-Johnson syndrome. According to the National Institutes ofHealth, the disorder affects the skin, mucous membranes andeyes.

The first sign of illness occurred on Christmas Day of 2000,when Thornton felt flu-like symptoms. She would be hospitalizedshortly thereafter at University of Mississippi Medical Center inJackson for treatment.

However, it would be two months later, in her hospital bed,where she would wake up from a medically induced coma blind inFebruary 2001. Getting sick and opening her eyes to only feel likethey were closed would just be the beginning of her life-changingjourney.

“Wherever I have to go, whatever I have to do, I’ll fight this,”said Thornton of her thoughts when discovering she was blind.

It would be that mentality and the help of longtime friend RickBrister that would guide Thornton on her way to regaining hersight.

For five years, Thornton and her family would search for atreatment to regain her eyesight.

She found herself often discouraged when doctors in Jacksondeclared she was not a candidate for treatments she would discover.However, Thornton would press on.

“I’ll never give up, that’s not me,” said Thornton. “Nothingfrom nothing is nothing, you have to have hope.”

After some research, Thornton would begin traveling to Miami,Fla., with Brister to receive treatment from the Bascom Palmer EyeInstitute and it is there she would begin treatment in March of2009 and undergo nine strings of surgery to regain hereyesight.

“I could not believe that that they were going to put a tooth inmy eye,” said Thornton.

The procedure, modified osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis, includedextracting her eyetooth and implanting it in her eye as a base tohold a prosthetic lens.

One of Thornton’s memorable first sights was of a burgundysunset.

“I know we are busy, but I appreciate everything now,” saidThornton. “I never saw it the way I see now.”

Now, after roughly a year and two months of taking in thesights, Thornton enjoys playing bingo, seeing her grandchildren anddriving her new Toyota SUV.

“Being blind for nine years, everything’s changed,” jokedThornton. “I have to ask Rick what vehicles are what.”

Thornton mentioned she was quite surprised when she discoveredshe still had her driver’s license picture on file and qualifiedfor a new license at the department of motor vehicles.

“Pay her Rick, let’s get out of here before she changes hermind,” Thornton said when retelling her story about getting herdriver’s license.

While gaining a new perspective on life, Thornton hopes herjourney will inspire others going through difficult times.

“You have to take one step at a time,” said Thornton. “To me,that’s all it is- one step and a day.”