"I still have value"
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.
Hadley
“I still have value”
Linda: Once I got the diagnosis and started significantly losing my vision, I realized that there's a lot that you need to be able to see with working as a Steven minister at our local hospital. And I knew that I was not going to be able to do that.
Marc: This is Hadley’s Insights and Sound Bites, where people facing vision loss share what has helped them cope and adjust.
Linda: My name is Linda Jenkins and I live in Somerville, South Carolina, which is near Charleston.
I have retinitis pigmentosa that I had inherited from my father side of the family, when I was in my 40s. So, it was late onset for me and I didn’t think I’d had actually inherited it. Fifteen years and now I’m totally blind.
I volunteered even as I was working, as a telephone crisis counselor and I volunteered in mental health. I have a mental health background as well and I just love interacting with people and connecting with people and listening to their stories.
A number of years ago, as I was losing my vision, I shared with some friends that something on my bucket list, when I retired, was going to be working as a Stephen minister at our local hospital, volunteering there.
Once I got the diagnosis and started significantly losing my vision, I thought, oh, I've got to take this off of my bucket list because a lot of connecting with other people and working as pastoral care, I realized that there's a lot that you need to be able to see. See body language and be able to read people. And I knew that I was not going to be able to do that.
However, I had my friends who were pretty persistent and they said, well, why don't you try going through the training and see whether you can qualify because we know that you can do it.
They actually believed in me more than I did myself. So, I went through the training and I passed.
I went and visited my first patient in the hospital, and I introduced myself and I had my white cane with me, and we had a delightful conversation just chatting and touching base and just talking to her and listening to her and her story.
And at the end of the meeting I said, well, I've enjoyed getting to know you. And I would offer you a prayer if you'd like. I don't need to do a prayer, but if you'd like me to, I certainly will.
And she did say to me, she said, oh, I'd like you to do a prayer. And I said, may may I hold your hand? And she said sure. And I kind of reached out a little bit and she said you're going to have to find my hand because I'm totally blind.
In which case I burst out laughing and she says what's going on? I said, I'm totally blind too. So we flailed our hands around for a few seconds and touched base.
Then we started meeting again about blindness and what that meant. We definitely connected authentically. And I realized at that point that I was able to do this. Even though I was blind. And it confirmed her that we could connect with each other and I gave her some resources and it was a win-win situation for us both.
Connecting with this patient confirmed for me the idea that I still have value. And it gave her confidence to know that she could connect with somebody who was blind also. And she even commented to me, if you're able to do this, maybe I can do something.
I found through working as a Stephen minister at the hospital to be so rewarding to me because it gave me purpose in my life. Even though I couldn’t see, I still was a resource for other people. And had things to give to others. And how they could share with me and I could share with them and that is so important to be able to connect with other people and have purpose in our lives.
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 68
Losing a fair amount of her vision brought with it a series of other losses for Dia. She began to feel depressed and very fearful. However, she gradually started giving herself pep talks and reconnecting with the things that bring her joy.
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Episode 67
Julia had always lived life on her own terms. So, when vision loss meant giving up her car keys, she used a white cane or her husband's arm to guide her steps, and kept going. Still, she noticed a change in how others treated her… until she made a decision she now calls, "the best thing I ever did."
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Episode 66
When the scenario Leighann had feared for years finally happened and glaucoma took much of her vision, it hit her hard. But her desire to keep living meant challenging herself—even when it scared her.
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Episode 65
Michael's vision loss led him down a long, uncomfortable road, discovering what he had to let go of and what he could still hold on to for his future. He continues to challenge himself to try new things.
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Episode 64
Tamisue's eyesight has diminished to the point where she feels stuck between two worlds—not enough vision to function as she once did, but not fully blind. She fears her world going completely dark. However, an addition to her life has made a tremendous difference for both her and her family.
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Episode 63
The loss Tom feels regarding his vision is complicated because it is ongoing. Acceptance has not come easy. Through the years, though, he has come to approach life a bit differently.
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Episode 62
Anne's declining vision had her feeling down and sorry for herself. But two gifts—one she gave and one she received—helped turn things around for her.
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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.