"I never thought of that"
Randy's search for help led him into a whole new way of thinking.
Insights and Soundbites
I never thought of that
Randy: Probably the hardest part was just not understanding and getting information and help on trying to navigate through the emotions of it.
Marc: This is Hadley’s Insights and Sound Bites, where people facing vision loss share what has helped them cope and adjust.
Randy: There's always the, why me thing. And then of course, you go back to the, why not? I have a strong faith, and I understand the way life works, but there's still emotionally, as humans, we still deal with the sense of loss and, "Well, what do I do now?" A lot of it is, "Well, okay, I got this." And even if you are able to come to terms with it, it's like, "Okay, so now what?"
One of the things that... Looking backwards, probably the hardest part was just not understanding and getting information and help on trying to navigate through the emotions of it and navigating with the loss of vision. And there wasn't a lot of help.
But, when I came across that one by Douglas Walker, Adjusting to Vision Loss, and I read it, it just captured so much of what I felt over the years. To me, it was the most logical first workshop anybody should take when they encounter vision loss, when they're first dealing with it. It just helps you to think about the emotions, think about, "Okay, what are my steps going forward, and what am I going to do?"
What I liked about that was they made a comment about how vision loss is... When you have a loss, you go through the cycle of grieving, anger, all that stuff. Yeah, we all do that. But what was very interesting is they made the comment, "Well, because people don't realize your vision, you reach a plateau and then a little while later, your vision deteriorates more, you go through the whole process all over again." I never thought of that. That makes perfect sense.
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 82
When Elizabeth lost her vision in an auto accident, she went into survival mode. As she began to rebuild her life, she found certain connections and activities helped her focus less on her limitations and more on a renewed sense of purpose.
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Episode 81
When Eddie lost a fair amount of vision, she was scared and didn’t know how she was going to cope. But she found a source of strength and inspiration.
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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.