Christina Ha: A blind cook who became a master chef

If you watched the third season of reality cooking show "MasterChef," you'll remember the big smile that lit up Christine Ha's face every time

she wowed the judges with her bold flavors — and especially when her three-course Vietnamese comfort food won.

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She has the title "MasterChef". What casual viewers may not immediately realize is that the amateur chef from Houston,

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Christina Ha is blind

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She was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica (NMO), a rare neurological condition that affects the optic nerves and spinal cord.

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Ha had lost most of her sight. However, with the help of the National Library for the Blind and Handicapped (NLS), she regained her love for reading.

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"When I went through some of my worst health problems in 2003 - complete paralysis from the neck down due to spinal inflammation and total blindness.

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NLS, part of the Library of Congress, oversees a free reading program for US residents and citizens living abroad who are blind,

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