"I pick myself up"
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.
Hadley
I pick myself up
Denise: I’m constantly losing vision and it’s just painfully slow. You never know what you’re going to wake up to.
Marc: This is Hadley’s Insights and Sound Bites, where people facing vision loss share what has helped them cope and adjust.
Denise: My name is Denise Schweitzer, and I am a resident in the southern most tip of Indiana, in the Evansville area.
I still mourn the loss of my vision, because with this disease, Stargardts, there is no stable time in your vision. I'm constantly losing vision, and it's just painfully slow. You never know what you're going to wake up to. Every day, you don't know what you're going to wake up to.
I really started struggling going up and down stairs and feeling safe. Then I knew right away, I'm a dog person, always have been a dog person. I knew once I learned how to use that cane, I wanted to learn what the process was to get a guide dog.
Kia is my guide dog, and she's a wonderful girl. She's so much of a companion, and I live in the rural area, and so it's nice to have her because we don't have sidewalks and stuff. I can teach her a route and just tell her to take me to see my friend or whatever, and she just boom, boom, boom, takes me along. It's a nice peace of mind to have her companionship and also feel safe out here in the country where I'm at.
I think the bad days that I've had, I always pick myself up afterwards. Getting outside, spending time with my guide dog, just breaking up the monotony of the sadness works for me.
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 83
Scott went to multiple specialists in search of a cure for his eye disease. He would often sit and just think about going blind. But one day a son's random comment took his mind off of everything and reconnected the family.
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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.