Living with Vision: Purpose, Service & Legacy with Dr. Kerri-Ann Coombs
What does it mean to truly live with vision? On this episode of Eyespiring, Heather Patrick welcomes Kerri-Ann Coombs, R.N., O.D., whose journey from registered nurse to optometrist, entrepreneur, author, mother, and philanthropist has been shaped by purpose, faith, and a deeply personal connection to vision loss.
Inspired by her father's experience with vision loss, Dr. Coombs developed a passion for helping others protect their sight while also encouraging people to pursue the vision they have for their own lives. She shares candidly about changing careers, overcoming fear, building De'Cordova Eyewear in honor of her father, embracing entrepreneurship, using social media to educate and connect, giving back to children in Jamaica, and the lessons motherhood has taught her about patience and leadership.
The conversation ultimately returns to a simple but powerful idea: vision is a gift, and living with vision means having the faith and courage to pursue what you were created to do.
Topics Covered
- Dr. Coombs' journey from nursing to optometry
- Discovering her calling to healthcare
- How her father's vision loss shaped her personal and professional journey
- Overcoming fear and learning to "bet on yourself"
- The lessons nursing taught her about caring for others
- The story and legacy behind De'Cordova Eyewear
- Taking a holistic approach to eye and overall health
- Entrepreneurship and the challenges of being responsible for it all
- Learning to embrace areas outside her expertise
- Social media as a platform for education, creativity, and storytelling
- Authenticity versus perfection on social media
- Giving back to children in Jamaica
- The connection between childhood vision care and future opportunity
- Gratitude for the gift of sight
- Writing A Girl with a Big Vision
- Encouraging children to dream bigger
- How motherhood has changed Dr. Coombs' approach to leadership
- Learning patience and allowing things to grow
- The meaning of vision, faith, and purpose
- Building a life, not just a business, that reflects your vision
Dr. Coombs reminds us that we should never take the gift of vision for granted, but we also shouldn't be afraid to pursue the vision we have for our lives. Her story is a reminder to bet on yourself, learn from failure, and build a life that matters beyond the work you do.
As she puts it, "Build a life that you desire. The business may come and go, but your life remains with you forever."
Timestamps & Highlights
00:00 – Welcome to Eyespiring
02:21 – Finding Joy in Peace and Simplicity
03:17 – The "Why" Behind Her Work
04:10 – Discovering a Calling to Healthcare
06:15 – From Nurse to Optometrist
08:17 – Following the Dream Despite Fear
11:05 – Betting on Yourself
13:37 – The Story Behind De'Cordova Eyewear
14:36 – Experiencing Her Father's Vision Loss
17:20 – Seeing the Whole Person
19:05 – Authenticity, Creativity & Social Media
23:16 – Building an Eyewear Business
26:40 – The First De'Cordova Frames
27:44 – The Realities of Entrepreneurship
29:22 – Giving Back to Jamaica
31:34 – A Young Patient Who Changed Her Perspective
33:15 – A Girl with a Big Vision
34:42 – Motherhood & Leadership
37:36 – Rapid Fire
39:56 – Vision Means Faith
40:14 – The One Thing She Wants You to Remember
41:17 – Closing & Prevent Blindness Texas
