Bobby Sliko was a bright, energetic teenager. When his vision began to dim, he didn’t want to bother his parents, so he kept his worries to himself. When he couldn’t hide it any longer, doctors found the cause—a brain tumor. They operated five times, and as his vision came and went, Bobby persevered. In the end, he learned some of life’s lessons. And he taught a few.

Here is an  photo slideshow of Bobby, his classmates and his family. To read the full article, pick up the May issue of Washingtonian, on stands now.