"I haven't given up"
Learning he would never see again was heartbreaking for Shannon. Embracing what challenged him, Shannon discovered strength in the unfamiliar.
Hadley
I haven’t given up
Shannon: I had to experience darkness. But when I started bumping into things and leaving knots on my head and sores, that inspired me to do better.
Marc: This is Hadley’s Insights and Sound Bites, where people facing vision loss share what has helped them cope and adjust.
Shannon: My name is Shannon Wood. I live in Memphis, Tennessee. My story starts in 2015 when I lost my eyesight completely at one time.
When he shined the light in my eye when he dilated them, that my retinas were torn too bad. And so, I asked the doctor, I said, does this mean that I'll be blind the rest of my life? And he said yes pretty much.
And so, I was heartbroken over it.
I had to experience darkness. I was first led around by other people, and, ended up getting a cane.
But when I started bumping into things and leaving knots on my head and sores on my shins and stuff, where I bump into the mop bucket. That inspired me to do better. Number one, not walking so fast and I had to walk slow and make sure I go around an object when I had my cane with me.
I had to rely on my hearing. And when I rely on my hearing, I hear the wall. I can hear somebody walk by me. I can hear cars coming. I can hear if I'm close to a car. If it's parked, traffic it everything has a different sound.
I end up having to be inspired by trying to challenge myself to look forward to new things like, that's why I decided to read braille for. Because I want to sing in the church. And so, I decided to read braille.
But me giving up. No, I haven't give up. My story's unique, but I appreciate you letting me talk and everything.
Marc: Insights & Sound Bites is made possible by Hadley’s donors. Who understand that hearing some 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 101
When Terry lost more of her vision, it took time to come to terms with what was happening. Talking with others who understand what she's going through has made it easier to open up and find her way forward.
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Episode 100
As Patricia's vision changed, doing things on her own became harder, and at times she felt like no one really understood. Connecting with others going through many of the same things helped her feel less alone and more like herself again.
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Episode 99
Rebecca was used to handling things on her own, but vision loss brought anger, frustration, and challenges she hadn't expected. Over time, she found a different way forward, making room for the hard days, accepting help, and finding people who understood.
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Episode 98
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.
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Episode 97
Vision loss doesn't always happen all at once. For Kara, it keeps changing, which means she's constantly figuring out what she can and can't do. Hear how she's learning to adjust, deal with the frustrations, and take each day as it comes.
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Episode 96
For Carolyn, connecting with people has always come naturally. When vision loss made it harder to recognize faces, she worried about missing those everyday connections. Hear how speaking up about her vision helped others understand what she needed.
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Episode 95
A close call on a walk changed the way Lance thinks about living with vision loss. It reminded him to stay open, keep learning, and keep moving forward.
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Episode 94
For Dottie, losing her vision meant giving up many things, and there was one farewell that hit especially hard. But after making a difficult choice to let go of something she loved, Dottie found a new perspective on what she had lost—and gained.
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Episode 93
Linda always imagined retirement would mean doing the volunteer work she loved, but after losing her eyesight, she thought that chapter of her life was over. Then one memorable hospital visit reminded her she still had exactly what people needed.
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Episode 92
As Mary's vision worsened, the life she'd always known began slipping out of reach. She wasn't sure where to turn or what might help. But a chance meeting changed things for her in ways she now hopes to pass on.
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Episode 91
When Susan began losing vision, she grew fearful about the future. But she found a source of hope and courage.
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Episode 90
Early in her journey with vision loss, Char was bitter and angry at the world. But one day, a heartfelt conversation helped her turn a corner and, as she put it, "look at vision loss through different eyes."
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Pick up where you left off Everything you start is automatically saved across Hadley.
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Personalized recommendations We'll suggest resources based on your interests.
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Join live discussions Live and lively discussions on technology, cooking, and more, all geared toward the community of people living with vision loss.
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