Noah Malone

TEAM USA

Noah Malone

TEAM USA

The Book

Losing Vision, Not Dreams: Reflections on My Teenage Years

People have asked about my journey on many different occasions. After several months of writing down my thoughts, stories, and experiences, I’m happy to finally share that my first book is now available for pre-order.

When I was 13, I was diagnosed with Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a rare genetic disease that leads to central vision loss. My vision quickly deteriorated from 20/20 to 20/600 and 20/400 in my left and right eyes, respectively. I was a rising track and field star, and suddenly, I was legally blind.

Special thanks to Bosma Enterprises for their generous support in publishing this book.

LHON is caused by a genetic mutation I inherited from my mom. Her vision is fine, but she carries the gene and passed it on to me. There is no known cure for LHON.

My uncle, my mom’s older brother, also has LHON. But for 20 years, starting when he was 12 years old, he was misdiagnosed. One of his misdiagnoses was “mental blindness.” He was finally diagnosed with LHON when he was 30 years old, one year before I was born.

I wrote this book because there was nothing like it for me to read when I was diagnosed with LHON. I wrote this book for young athletes with LHON or other disabilities who have goals they want to achieve, but who also have embarrassing moments. I want them to know that I used to count the rare days when I wasn’t bullied at school. I want them to be motivated by my story of overcoming these challenges to join the U.S. Paralympic team, set records, compete globally, and become one of the only legally blind Division I track athletes in the nation at Indiana State University. I lost my vision, but not my dreams.

I wrote this book for anyone who has ever felt that their disability overshadowed their athletic abilities and achievements.

I wrote this book so that people won’t count disabled athletes out, seeing us instead as serious competitors in our chosen sports.

Finally, I wrote this book for anyone facing obstacles along their life’s path. With focus, hard work, and a positive mindset, you too can stay the course and finish strong.

“Losing Vision, Not Dreams”
Pre-order available now

Pre-order extended to Sep 15, 2021

Shipping to US & Canada only (at this time).
Paperback, ~ 80 pages, large print.

$13.99 + shipping & handling

“I wrote my book so that people won’t count disabled athletes out, seeing us instead as serious competitors in our chosen sports.”

About

Noah Malone is a sprinter for Team USA Paralympic National Team and is a student at Indiana State University. He has competed overseas in Switzerland, Peru, and Dubai, U.A.E. Noah specializes in the 100m and 200m dashes in addition to the 4x100m relay. At the age of 13, Noah developed Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), a rare, incurable genetic disease that leads to central vision loss. Noah’s eye condition has left him with 20/400 vision in his left eye and 20/600 in his right eye. He is one of the only legally blind Division I track athletes in the nation.

In 2019, Noah became the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) 200m state champion, and he became a member of the 2019 Paralympics World Champion relay team for Team USA. That same year, he also was part of the Junior Paralympics World Championship team and the Paralympics Pan-Am team and medaled at both events. In his high school career, Noah was a 7X IHSSA state medalist (2017-2019). In 2015, Noah became a Junior Olympics All-American in the 13-14 age group 100m dash, and placed 6th at the USATF Junior Olympics. He repeated this accomplishment in 2018 in the 4×1, placing 4th in the 17-18 age group at the AAU Junior Olympics.

Off the track, Noah has been a keynote speaker at TEDx Indianapolis, and he has spoken at his local and county council meetings. At Hamilton Southeastern High School, he is the record holder for the 4×1 relay, 100m, and 200m events.

You can keep up with his journey here.