Eighteen-year-old Charlie Schumacher of St. Cloud doesn’t let life’s challenges, including a rare disorder, stop him from making a difference in the world of amateur boxing.
“His cup is always half full,” said Charlie’s mother Cindy. “He doesn’t dwell on the bad side of life.”
Charlie, who was born hard of hearing, found out last December that he is also legally blind. He had been a boxer for several years, fighting a total of 39 bouts, but now he is unable to fight. He continues to be involved, working as a registered coach through USA Boxing.
Charlie suffers from Usher Syndrome, which, according to webmd.com, results in impaired auditory nerves. The nerves have difficulty transmitting sensory input to the brain, and deafness results. Additionally, progressive vision loss is caused by Retinitis Pigmentosa, a condition that is associated with Usher Syndrome.
Researchers have identified at least three types of Usher Syndrome.
Although Charlie has good visual acuity, he does not have good peripheral vision, Cindy said. The condition will continue to get worse and Charlie will eventually lose his vision. They don’t know exactly when that will happen. Charlie is currently unable to drive.
The first signs of vision problems came when a college representative approached Charlie to shake his hand, and Charlie didn’t react because he could not see his hand. Vision testing followed, and eventually Charlie was diagnosed with Usher Syndrome Type II.
Although the diagnosis was traumatic for Charlie, his attitude toward life drives him to keep going, said Cindy, who is also involved in boxing.
“The sport of boxing lends itself to the discipline and hard work along with the confidence and self esteem from achieving goals and working hard,”  she said. “Charlie is famous for his speed bag and jump rope antics. He knows more jump rope tricks than anyone I’ve ever known.”
Charlie has also dealt with the hearing loss since birth, but boxing worked well with that symptom because of the sport’s common usage of hand signals.
Even though he is no longer able to box, Charlie looks forward to coaching and contributing to the sport by helping others. Charlie has advice for others who are involved with boxing or any other sport.
“I would tell them to give it all they’ve got,” he said.

- adamhaan@yahoo.com