"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 73
Sherry's vision loss has been gradual yet relentless. Asking for help to do things she used to be able to do on her own is a challenge for her, as it is for many. But she's finding some new tools and new ways to do things.
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Episode 72
Carolyn lost much of her vision after several glaucoma surgeries, leaving her feeling angry and discouraged. But a familiar childhood story inspired her to keep trying, even when tasks seemed impossible.
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Episode 71
Learning he would never see again was heartbreaking for Shannon. Embracing what challenged him, Shannon discovered strength in the unfamiliar.
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Episode 70
The week Jessica was diagnosed with an eye disease that would progressively impair her vision, she also found out she had cancer. A few things have helped her continue to feel strong and less isolated.
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Episode 69
Jack's vision has been declining for years. The hardest part for him is that it just keeps changing, so he needs to keep adapting. A routine Jack's wife put in place for the couple has helped him cope and adjust.
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Episode 68
Losing a fair amount of her vision brought with it a series of other losses for Dia. She began to feel depressed and very fearful. However, she gradually started giving herself pep talks and reconnecting with the things that bring her joy.
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Episode 67
Julia had always lived life on her own terms. So, when vision loss meant giving up her car keys, she used a white cane or her husband's arm to guide her steps, and kept going. Still, she noticed a change in how others treated her… until she made a decision she now calls, "the best thing I ever did."
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Episode 66
When the scenario Leighann had feared for years finally happened and glaucoma took much of her vision, it hit her hard. But her desire to keep living meant challenging herself—even when it scared her.
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Episode 65
Michael's vision loss led him down a long, uncomfortable road, discovering what he had to let go of and what he could still hold on to for his future. He continues to challenge himself to try new things.
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Episode 64
Tamisue's eyesight has diminished to the point where she feels stuck between two worlds—not enough vision to function as she once did, but not fully blind. She fears her world going completely dark. However, an addition to her life has made a tremendous difference for both her and her family.
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Episode 63
The loss Tom feels regarding his vision is complicated because it is ongoing. Acceptance has not come easy. Through the years, though, he has come to approach life a bit differently.
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Episode 62
Anne's declining vision had her feeling down and sorry for herself. But two gifts—one she gave and one she received—helped turn things around for her.