"I don't want to give up"
Thomas is experiencing many challenges of late, including vision loss. He finds inspiration and hope knowing he's not alone.
Hadley
“I don’t want to give up”
Thomas: I don't want to give up, but I can’t work at the same level that I used to work, and I can't have the independence that I once had and was very proud of.
Marc: This is Hadley’s Insights and Sound Bites, where people facing vision loss share what has helped them cope and adjust.
Thomas: Good afternoon. My name is Thomas and I live in Austin, Texas. I started losing my sight very slowly back in 2015. And yet progressed through COVID and then accelerated. And now I have not driven in two years and really struggle with being able to do all the things I could do previously, as an owner of a business, and especially losing the freedom of my ability to drive.
I'm not sure what accelerated the loss of my vision. I have what is called dry eye. A form of macular degeneration that could be hereditary, but there’s really no clear definition of how I began to lose my eyesight with this disease.
And you know what complicates my vision, is the fact that I also had renal carcinoma. And in 2022, had back surgery associated with that because the tumor had messed up in my lower lumbar.
So, I've had some challenges getting mobility back. And, I have a vision, not only a vision loss, but, but I have hearing issues, as well. So, when I look at mobility, somewhat mobility issues, I can walk on the flat surface. But then when I get into a scenario where, uneven surfaces or a sidewalk that has rises and dips--- I have become very self conscious and resort and walking sticks.
75 years old and, and I’m in great health. Just my vision is the biggest issue. My mobility is probably the second. And then my hearing is the third. So, I'm very blessed to have a loving wife, but I'm also very difficult to live with it at times, when things just don't seem to be able to come together.
And I don't want to give up, but I can’t work at the same level that I used to work, and I can't have the independence that I once had and was very proud of.
My daughter is very beneficial in helping me reach out to as a source of, solace, I guess I should say, because, I have been in a state of depression.
And now it’s very refreshing to listen to the other people with challenges with these podcasts.
So, I don't know much to say other than I was motivated. I listen to various episodes about others who are challenged with vision loss and just thank you for sharing.
My sharing is not very eloquent, but I really hope it helps someone else to know that every day you just get up and you don't quit. And, not to be ashamed to ask for help and keep looking for tools to help you cope with a very full life. Thank you.
Marc: Insights & Sound Bites has made possible by Hadley’s donors. Who understand that hearing someone else’s story can truly make a difference.
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 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.
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Episode 61
Glaucoma advanced to the point where Ron found it too difficult to do the volunteer work he loved in retirement. Still, he found a way to pull himself out of the hole he felt he was in and continue to give back.
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Episode 60
Diabetic retinopathy has taken more and more of Charles's vision. To cope, he is learning new approaches to life AND leaning into areas of passion that don't rely on sight.
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Episode 59
Bruce's vision had been decreasing for years. When it reached the point where he was tripping over objects and bumping into people, he felt embarrassed and kept his vision loss a secret. His wife convinced him to try something new.
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Episode 58
Marie grieved the loss of her vision, and still does. Yet, on a sunny August morning, she came to a realization that made all the difference in the world.