"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 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.