"I found the support I needed"
Listen in as Zenobia shares how she found the support and strength she needed.
Hadley
I found the support I needed
Zenobia: When my eyesight began to dim, it was the ultimate insult. I would lose more and more independence, and I didn't know where to turn.
Marc: This is Hadley’s Insights and Sound Bites, where people facing vision loss share what has helped them cope and adjust.
Zenobia Carson: My name is Zenobia Carson. I live in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. I'm originally from Chicago, Illinois. Born and raised.
I'm 75 years old, and I've been a social worker, a writer and author. I'm an avid reader and when my eyesight began to dim a couple of years ago and I was also let go from a job, I felt that it was the ultimate insult. I would lose more and more independence, and I didn't know where to turn.
I didn't want to be a burden on anyone that my children and I didn't take offers here in Minnesota to find help.
And I believe that along with Hadley and the encouragement that I've received from friends who finally figured out the truth that I was not seeing as well as I used to. I became more comfortable with sharing my day to day, I guess you would call it my day to day distress sometimes, or my day to day happiness. It's not all stress. I have very low vision and going from being a visual person or a seeing person to being able to not see much at all is a great leap for anyone, especially for me.
I participate in the Writers groups and it just gives me a sense of well-being to know that I'm not alone. I've not been thrown away. I'm not being ignored. And I am still very, very capable of doing many things.
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 42
For Cynthia, every story shared helps her on her own journey with vision loss.
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Episode 41
Living with low vision meant Karen was constantly explaining to others what she can and can't see. Then she found a tool that has made a big difference.
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Episode 40
Having to give up the car keys was traumatic for Eugenia. She worried about becoming isolated until she found a new way.
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Episode 39
This week, hear how rediscovering a favorite activity helped Celia find balance as she adjusts to vision loss.
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Episode 38
Denise can struggle with the slow but continuous loss of vision she's facing. But she's found a way to pick herself up on a bad day.
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Episode 37
Listen in as Vanessa shares what has helped keep her from feeling hopeless and defeated due to vision loss.
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Episode 36
Stacy shares with us how being honest about her vision loss with her friends and coworkers has made all the difference in the world.
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Episode 35
For many, having to give up the car keys due to vision loss is traumatic. Deb felt it too. Then, during a call to arrange transportation for herself, a new door opened.
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Episode 34
Listen in as Anne describes how a question posed to her shifted her perspective for living with vision loss.
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Episode 33
This week, William shares how learning to continue with his favorite hobby, even with vision loss, has been therapeutic—and uplifting. Here's the link to his website https://www.blindtruths.org/
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Episode 32
This week Angela shares how she struggled to get around due to vision loss, how she tried to hide it from others, and what helped her.
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Episode 31
This week we hear from Appreciate. She found that a Facebook group, The International Blind Cafe, gave her a source of comfort and encouragement.