"I felt sorry for myself"
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.
Hadley
I felt sorry for myself
Anne: I can tell you this, I felt sorry for myself at one point in time but, my guide dog has given me a new outlook on life.
Marc: This is Hadley’s Insights and Sound Bites, where people facing vision loss share what has helped them cope and adjust.
Anne: Hi, my name is Anne Buckley and I'm new to Hadley. And I was inspired by the stories that I heard today in the podcast. And I live in South Florida. So, I started losing my sight in my late 40s and, it's due to Macular Telangiectasia type two, which affects both eyes. And I find that I have about 9% vision loss.
So I guess the best way to describe it, my vision loss is, is if someone that had sight was to stand over a steaming pot, and they had that blurriness. That's about what vision I have. But the good news for me is two years ago, I was gifted a guide dog and he is my soul companion.
And because I live alone. But I do have two children. Well, they're grown men. But, my guide dog is my savior. And living with this guide dog has given me a new outlook on life.
I can tell you this, I felt sorry for myself at one point in time and, I had this theory. Last year for Christmas, I bought my granddaughter a calligraphy set. And when I find that, using that option of putting the pen to the paper, it's sort of like a ballerina. When I danced, I found that I always had two feet.
But when I put pen to ink on the paper, you know, when it's write as it flows, it's sort of like walking with my dog. He does my vision, but I know I use my ears to hear. So, with the pen on the paper using this calligraphy option that I have, it just I know when my writing is correct.
So that's how I fill my days with creative writing and the flow of the ink to the pen. And I quit feeling sorry for myself through this vision loss. And I am thankful for Hadley because through that, the talking books that I get and walking with my dog, I'm just a joyful person.
Have a great safe day.
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 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.
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Episode 57
Terry's doctor told him, "There's nothing more we can do. You'll never drive again," and he was distraught. Then he recalled his military days as a Marine and sailor, and that got him through.
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Episode 56
When Emma lost her sight in just a few months, she struggled to cope. She felt alone, her insecurities grew, and self-esteem plummeted. With time, she came to a new understanding and that helped her tremendously.
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Episode 55
Dave calls his experience with vision loss a slow torture. In the face of this, however, he has found a sense of inspiration in explorers, history, and an activity you wouldn't typically connect with vision loss, sightseeing.
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Episode 54
When Albert's vision decreased to the point that he could no longer read print anymore, he found it stressful. But he's found a new source of comfort that helps him quite a bit.
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Episode 53
Jayne can feel isolated living with her eye disease, spending much of her days forcing herself to focus on things that have become blurry. The stress can be overwhelming, causing her to shut down. But there's one area of life that now brings her more joy than ever before.
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Episode 52
When Jeffry lost his sight, he felt a loss of control, a loss of dignity. Then, he began his long road to empowerment, one small goal at a time.
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Episode 51
Marilyn went through bouts of anxiety and depression with her vision loss and still grieves the loss several years into her journey. She also decided to do something for herself which has helped tremendously.
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Episode 50
Learning to live with vision loss wasn't always easy for Pam. But with time, her bad days are fewer.