"I felt sorry for myself"

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].