HOWLAND - For almost 40 years, Rosemary Stang has not been able to see people's faces clearly.

Earlier this month she was able to see her grandson's face close up for the first time due to receiving a special magnification device to help her see items more clearly.

On Nov. 3, Stang had a Topaz magnifier delivered to her home which was made possible by fundraising efforts by Scope Harbor Adult Day Care.

''I haven't seen a face this close in 40 years,'' said Stang, while looking at her grandson's face on the equipment's large screen.

Stang uses the magnifier to read prescription bottles, her mail and recipes which she was unable to read before and had to have someone else read to her.

"I couldn't quit crying when I was able to see and read for myself," Stang said.

''There was so much joy for everyone. She couldn't stop crying. She was so happy," said Marilyn Hodory of Cortland, Stang's sister.

Hodory said she would previously help read everything to her sister. "She wait until I came here or someone else would read it to her," she said.

Stang said she has so much to be thankful for since she said the equipment has made a major change in her life.

"I feel so blessed," she said.

The Elvis Presley fan, who has many of the singer's images in her family room, said the machine was first recommended to her at Cleveland Sight Center. She hopes to be able to soon read newspapers and do large-print word searches.

Stang lost her sight due to optic neuritis caused by multiple sclerosis.

Stang she likes being able to read recipes since she likes to bake.

"It was so wonderful to be able to see. It felt fantastic. This machine has made my life so much easier," Stang said.

The equipment has a large screen and platform to place items which she then uses a control button to magnify. The item can slide back and forth on the platform with ease.

Stang, who was once a teacher, said she first went to the sight center in 1970.

Stang said an additional part of the unit is coming that will be able to read information to her as she looks at the picture on the screen.

Scope Harbor Adult Day Care, where Stang goes once a week, held a fundraiser to help her get funds for the equipment.

"We are so grateful to everyone who has donated," she said.

Kaye Bradley, center director at Scope Harbor, said one of the staff had a friend who belonged to the local Lions Club, which also helped with the effort to get the equipment. Lion Clubs devote service to vision-related causes, including providing people with vision screenings.

The winner of the raffle, which included a grand prize trip to Cancun, Mexico, in 2010, was Maria Carson of Howland who was a high school friend of Stang.

"I took part in the raffle because I wanted to make sure Rosemary got her machine. We all went to school together and had just started getting back together again," Carson said.

She said many people purchased raffle tickets to help with the fundraising.

Bradley said everyone was excited when Stang received the equipment.

"She was a teacher who taught all of us something important," she said.

Stang said the unit is one item that has made a major difference in her life.

"I am so grateful to everyone who helped,'' she said.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com