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A San Benito woman can barely see the sheets of music in front of her.

But that won't stop her from bringing Christmas carols and other songs of joy to the members of her church this holiday season.

Lupita Abrego is a joyful person but she is much different than she was 17 years ago when something changed in her eyes.
           
"I woke up with bloodshot eyes and two weeks later I was totally blind," said Abrego.

In 1995 she became only the 6th person in the US diagnosed with a rare auto-immune disease called Haradas which causes blindness.

She began a steroid regimen and has had several surgeries since.

Lupita is taking one day at a time and works as the secretary for the First Presbyterian Church in San Benito.

"In the office I use a 27 inch screen and then I magnify it,” said Abrego.
 
She isn't letting her disease get the best of her, especially during the holiday season as she performs for the Christmas recital at the church.

Her 40 years of piano training have paid off helping guide her through the notes since she can barely read the music

"My music has been magnified to an 11 by 14 sheet,” said Abrego.

Although her talent is music to our ears, it's not easy.

"It’s just been difficult,” said Abrego. “I’ve tried to practice, but it’s tedious, its rough. This disease is very rough.

Lupita is telling her story after years of keeping it under wraps to help someone else before they suffer the same fate.

"One of the most important things is that if people have something different in their eyes, it’s very important for them to go check it out,” said Abrego. “My vision was 20/20 and everything was fine and within two weeks, I went blind.”

Her condition can't be reversed, it can only be controlled but her faith can never be broken.

"God gave me this talent,” said Abrego. “I have to use it to help people praise him.”
 
Lupita does get a lot of support from other parishioners at the church when it comes to driving and getting to doctors appointments.

She says since her condition is so rare, she has yet to meet someone else with it in the Rio Grande Valley.