Video: 11-year-old boy receives gene-editing treatment to restore vision

By Yosi Yahoudai
Founder and Managing Partner

Video: 11-year-old boy receives gene-editing treatment to restore vision

Updated: 2:00 PM PDT May 12, 2024

An 11-year-old from Detroit said it was a bit scary knowing that he’s among the first people in the world to try a new experimental treatment for a genetic eye condition.But Jacob Peckham told WWJ that part of the reason he’s excited about the treatment is because it could lead to helping others with Retinitis pigmentosa sep 290, the genetic eye condition that impacts Jacob’s vision.”I wanna help people like me because they — before the surgery, I just,” Jacob said, pausing. “And then after, it felt like, I don’t know, I could experience the world better,” the 11-year-old continued as he spoke with WWJ.Jacob, who was born with the condition. After learning about the new gene-editing treatment, Jacob’s parents, Jodie and Andrew Peckham, flew with him to Philadelphia so that he could undergo the procedure. So what did the surgery entail? “They basically put a needle in my eye,” Jacob said of the procedure.In the weeks after getting the treatment, Jacob’s vision has improved, he and his mom told WWJ. “Now I can see farther and clearer,” he said.See more of Jacob’s story in the video player above.

(Video: WWJ, FAMILY PHOTOS, CNN via CNN Newsource) —

An 11-year-old from Detroit said it was a bit scary knowing that he’s among the first people in the world to try a new experimental treatment for a genetic eye condition.

But Jacob Peckham told WWJ that part of the reason he’s excited about the treatment is because it could lead to helping others with Retinitis pigmentosa sep 290, the genetic eye condition that impacts Jacob’s vision.

“I wanna help people like me because they — before the surgery, I just,” Jacob said, pausing. “And then after, it felt like, I don’t know, I could experience the world better,” the 11-year-old continued as he spoke with WWJ .

Jacob, who was born with the condition. After learning about the new gene-editing treatment, Jacob’s parents, Jodie and Andrew Peckham, flew with him to Philadelphia so that he could undergo the procedure.

So what did the surgery entail?

“They basically put a needle in my eye,” Jacob said of the procedure.

In the weeks after getting the treatment, Jacob’s vision has improved, he and his mom told WWJ.

“Now I can see farther and clearer,” he said.

See more of Jacob’s story in the video player above.

About the Author

Yosi Yahoudai is a founder and the managing partner of J&Y. His practice is comprised primarily of cases involving automobile and motorcycle accidents, but he also represents people in premises liability lawsuits, including suits alleging dangerous conditions of public property, third-party criminal conduct, and intentional torts. He also has expertise in cases involving product defects, dog bites, elder abuse, and sexual assault. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California and is admitted to practice in all California State Courts, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. If you have any questions about this article, you can contact Yosi by clicking here.