Stevie Wonder has been open about his blindness, sharing his experiences and insights. A musical genius from a young age, his journey began in Saginaw, Michigan, where he was raised.
Stevie Wonder playing a harmonica on January 1, 1960 | Source: Getty Images
Born Stevland Hardaway Morris on May 13, 1950, Wonder once shared a revealing interview that he was not born blind. He explained that his blindness resulted from a medical error shortly after his premature birth. When asked if he had perceived any light, Wonder responded, “I may have.”
He was born with a condition called retrolental fibroplasia, which resulted due to exposure to excessive oxygen. This was common for premature babies in the ’50s before doctors discovered an alternative. “That’s how I became blind,” said Wonder.
In a separate interview from 2004, the record producer revealed that another child who was born one minute before him lost her life because she couldn’t withstand the oxygen she was given while inside an incubator.
When asked if he felt indifferent about the doctor being responsible for his condition, Wonder responded that he did not. He then recounted a visit to Saginaw, Michigan, where he returned to the hospital where he was born.
Stevie Wonder during 35th Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Awards Induction on June 10, 2004, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
