Alexander Dodds, a 12-year-old patient at Duke Eye Center, was honored in November 2025 at a Duke Men’s Basketball game at Cameron Indoor Stadium as “The Scheyer Family Kid Captain.”
The Kid Captain program, created by Duke Men’s Basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his wife, Marcelle, celebrates resilience and raises awareness for childhood illnesses. Children receiving care at Duke are invited to meet Coach Scheyer, receive a signed basketball, and step onto center court during a game.
Dodds was nominated by Sharon Freedman, MD, professor of ophthalmology and his ophthalmologist, to highlight that children with blindness and vision impairment are highly capable and to raise awareness for pediatric eye diseases.
“Alexander is an exceptional young man. His visual impairment has not slowed him down — a talented musician and excellent student, he is such an inspiration,” said Freedman.
Born with X-linked juvenile retinoschisis, a rare genetic retinal disease that causes vision loss and blindness, Dodds maintained some degree of reduced sight until age nine, thanks to the care of Freedman and retina specialist Cynthia Toth, MD. “We thought he would be blind by age three,” says his mother, Jodi Gehring. “Alexander’s delayed blindness allowed him to develop visual memories and a better understanding of visual concepts, which would not have been possible if he had lost his sight at a younger age.”
Despite total blindness, Dodds excels academically and has a passion for music. When he shared that he had made first chair saxophone in the Durham All-County Middle School Band prior to the game, he was invited to play with the Duke Pep Band — a highlight of his Kid Captain experience. His talent impressed the band director so much that he was invited back for future games. Dodds dreams of attending Duke one day to pursue engineering and music.
“Being the Kid Captain was an incredible experience. Meeting Coach Scheyer and his wife before the game was great — they were both so kind and welcoming. Playing with the pep band was unforgettable, and being invited back for future games made the night even more special,” said Dodds.
Dodds’ story is a powerful reminder of resilience and the impact of compassionate care. Through programs like the Scheyer Family Kid Captains, Duke celebrates these extraordinary children and raises awareness for the conditions they face.