"I can make my life as full and rich as I possibly can"
As her vision changed, Martha worried her world might start getting smaller. But a trip reminded her that she didn't have to give up the things she loved. Turns out, asking for a little help can take you a long way.
Hadley
“I can make my life as full and rich as I possibly can”
Martha: I think that was one of my big learnings was asking for help and that really, it can change everything, it really can.
Marc: This is Hadley’s Insights and Sound Bites, where people facing vision loss share what has helped them cope and adjust.
Martha: My name is Martha Taylor and I live in Little Rock, Arkansas.
I was diagnosed with macular dystrophy and after I did some genetic testing, I had a form of Stargardt and Stargardt's is an eye condition that usually starts in young children, but you have to have two gene pairs to have that form of Stargardt. And after my genetic testing, I found out I only had one gene pair, which is why my condition didn't come on until later in life. And I really didn't notice any difference until probably about 10 years ago. And have been kind of trying to figure my way forward since then.
I've always been very independent and I love to go on trips and travel and the thing that has been the hardest for me is to ask for help and to not see that as like a character flaw or a moral failing.
I went on a two week cruise last fall with my cousin and it was a Baltic sea cruise and I've never been to that part of the world at all, but she said, "I want to do this with you."
So the first few days we kind of spent time navigating the ship and navigating the walking tours and here's the curb and here's cobblestone and you know, and I would just have to say to her, "I can't see that. Can you describe it to me? " And it was fantastic.
I thought, "Oh, traveling is done for me. " And no, it's not. And it really gives you confidence. I think that was one of my big learnings was the asking for help and that really, it can change everything, it really can.
We all need help and sometimes you need, sometimes you need a little more than other times and, I think just seeking the support of other groups or services or friends or family because we tend to isolate. We tend to say, "Oh, our world is so small now and shrinking," but it doesn't have to be. And so I just had to suck it up and just say, "I'm going to do this. I can make my life as full and rich as I possibly can, but I can't do that by myself."
Marc: You never know who might need to hear your story. If you’d like to share with us, just leave us a message on our Insights & Sound Bites voicemail. By calling, 847-512-4867. Or, you can use your smartphone or computer and email us a recording to [email protected].
All Episodes
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Episode 100
As Patricia's vision changed, doing things on her own became harder, and at times she felt like no one really understood. Connecting with others going through many of the same things helped her feel less alone and more like herself again.
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Episode 99
Rebecca was used to handling things on her own, but vision loss brought anger, frustration, and challenges she hadn't expected. Over time, she found a different way forward, making room for the hard days, accepting help, and finding people who understood.
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Episode 97
Vision loss doesn't always happen all at once. For Kara, it keeps changing, which means she's constantly figuring out what she can and can't do. Hear how she's learning to adjust, deal with the frustrations, and take each day as it comes.
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Episode 96
For Carolyn, connecting with people has always come naturally. When vision loss made it harder to recognize faces, she worried about missing those everyday connections. Hear how speaking up about her vision helped others understand what she needed.
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Episode 95
A close call on a walk changed the way Lance thinks about living with vision loss. It reminded him to stay open, keep learning, and keep moving forward.
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Episode 94
For Dottie, losing her vision meant giving up many things, and there was one farewell that hit especially hard. But after making a difficult choice to let go of something she loved, Dottie found a new perspective on what she had lost—and gained.
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Episode 93
Linda always imagined retirement would mean doing the volunteer work she loved, but after losing her eyesight, she thought that chapter of her life was over. Then one memorable hospital visit reminded her she still had exactly what people needed.
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Episode 92
As Mary's vision worsened, the life she'd always known began slipping out of reach. She wasn't sure where to turn or what might help. But a chance meeting changed things for her in ways she now hopes to pass on.
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Episode 91
When Susan began losing vision, she grew fearful about the future. But she found a source of hope and courage.
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Episode 90
Early in her journey with vision loss, Char was bitter and angry at the world. But one day, a heartfelt conversation helped her turn a corner and, as she put it, "look at vision loss through different eyes."
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Episode 89
The impact vision loss had on Todd's life was profound. Through cycles of anger and depression, he often took it out on those who cared most about him. Then he started channeling those emotions into a new activity, and that made all the difference for him and his family.
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Episode 88
When Pat was diagnosed with an inherited retinal disease, her doctor told her she wouldn't go completely blind, but her life would change forever. And while it's been a hard road, she's found some things along the way that help.
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