"I keep trying"
Listen in as Eugenia describes how her own determination and the support of friends helped her keep moving forward.
Hadley
I keep trying
Eugenia: The worst part for me with my sight, my sight will never be back. It's my Irish roots, I’m stubborn.
Marc: This is Hadley’s Insights and Sound Bites, where people facing vision loss share what has helped them cope and adjust.
Eugenia DeReu: Hi, my name is Eugenia DeReu. I am from the Buffalo, New York area. I'm 62. Back in January 2021, I stayed in the emergency room. They found a brain tumor the size of a baseball. That was between my skull and my brain. It was pushing my brain back. Through that, I lost a lot of time. I had to learn how to walk again once they took it out.
You know, I went from a wheelchair to a walker to finally walking. I'm still wobbly, but I'm doing better. I lost my sense of smell and I'm still recuperating. My brain is still recuperating two years later. And the worst part for me with my sight, my sight will never be back. I also had radiation, that radiation, that kind of damage, some that I guess it's scary.
But it's my Irish roots, I’m stubborn. And I found friends that I had for a long time that came back even though I was not functioning and they weren't there, they supported me. I found new friends. You know, my family's had a tough time, so we're still working on that one. But these friends have lifted me up and reminded me who I am.
And I've made myself joined the senior center because they have activities. I've made, I lost my independence because of my sight. I can't drive, but I've learned to love Audible.
And if you just embrace everything they say, it's the hardest thing to do is to embrace a new life, especially at 62 or 60. When it started. You know, it's but you could do it. And I still try. And every single day I get up and I think about what I need to do. And I don't always succeed, but I keep trying.
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 80
As Kenneth lost most of his sight to glaucoma, he was feeling increasingly isolated and alone. Then he made a commitment, forcing himself to find ways to stay connected to the rest of the world.
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Episode 79
When Carol Lee was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration, she was angry and frustrated. Over time, resentment began to fade a bit and the shock wore off. Gradually, her perspective started to shift.
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Episode 78
When Cliff unexpectedly lost a fair amount of his sight, he felt overwhelmed. But with time, he found a way forward.
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Episode 77
Thomas is experiencing many challenges of late, including vision loss. He finds inspiration and hope knowing he's not alone.
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Episode 76
Nikki has lost her vision due to a rare autoimmune disease. While she appreciates positive bits of advice and encouragement, she also stays grounded in the struggles she's facing and knows others do, too. She's feeling the loss.
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Episode 75
When a favorite hobby became more difficult for Dianne due to glaucoma, she learned to tap into something else. It turned out to be the ideal thing.
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Episode 74
Peter's sight slowly but steadily worsened over the course of several years. When he had to give up driving, his self-image took a hit. Working through his emotions has helped him cope and adjust.
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Episode 73
Sherry's vision loss has been gradual yet relentless. Asking for help to do things she used to be able to do on her own is a challenge for her, as it is for many. But she's finding some new tools and new ways to do things.
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Episode 72
Carolyn lost much of her vision after several glaucoma surgeries, leaving her feeling angry and discouraged. But a familiar childhood story inspired her to keep trying, even when tasks seemed impossible.
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Episode 71
Learning he would never see again was heartbreaking for Shannon. Embracing what challenged him, Shannon discovered strength in the unfamiliar.
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Episode 70
The week Jessica was diagnosed with an eye disease that would progressively impair her vision, she also found out she had cancer. A few things have helped her continue to feel strong and less isolated.
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Episode 69
Jack's vision has been declining for years. The hardest part for him is that it just keeps changing, so he needs to keep adapting. A routine Jack's wife put in place for the couple has helped him cope and adjust.