"It was something I had to do"
For Dottie, losing her vision meant giving up many things, and there was one farewell that hit especially hard. But after making a difficult choice to let go of something she loved, Dottie found a new perspective on what she had lost—and gained.
Hadley
“It was something I had to do”
Dottie: “Trying to get used to the darkness, as well as trying to adjust to being as normal as I possibly can.”
Marc: This is Hadley’s Insights and Sound Bites, where people facing vision loss share what has helped them cope and adjust.
Dottie: My name is Dorothy. I go by Dottie Wilson. I live in North Carolina, right outside Winston-Salem. My eye condition is NAION or non-interior ischemic optic neuropathy. This presented itself to me in 2019, in my left eye. And I lost some vision in that eye. I lost some peripheral vision that was not a really good eye to begin with.
I got over that pretty quickly. I'd say it took me about six months to adjust to that. Then in 2022, it hit my right eye. And that was my pretty much my dominant eye. And it hit it really hard. I lost all my peripheral vision. So it has been quite a battle for me because the second episode, it's been not quite four years yet and I am trying to still to adjust.
Trying to get used to the darkness, as well as trying to adjust to being as normal as I possibly can. It's probably been one of the hardest things I've ever dealt with in my life. I had just bought the car, it was four months old, and I've always driven the same brand of car since 1995. And you know, I'm getting ready to turn 70 years old, so I knew that was probably going to be my last car. And I loved it. And it was brand new.
And more than anything, I think it was just that that was just one thing that was taken away that I just loved. I love driving. I love going places. And it was really, it was really hard on me knowing that I was going to have to get rid of it, but I knew it was something that I had to do. That I could not allow myself to get in that car and possibly hurt myself or hurt someone else.
And I would have never done that, no matter how hard it was to let it go and not see it sit in my garage. And to be honest, I think about it from time to time, but I know it's gone.
I also was told by the owner, and I knew he would do this because he knows us very well and he said, I will make sure that somebody very special gets her car that loved it as much as she did. And that warms my heart.
And like I said, I can go down in the garage, which that side of the garage now is filled with my grand grandbabies, riding toys. So, I look at it in that standpoint as well, that they've got a whole side of the garage, that they can ride all their riding toys on that side of the garage.
So, you know, so it created a space for my grandchildren as well. I guess you could say that I gave them a spot to park their cars.
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 96
For Carolyn, connecting with people has always come naturally. When vision loss made it harder to recognize faces, she worried about missing those everyday connections. Hear how speaking up about her vision helped others understand what she needed.
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Episode 95
A close call on a walk changed the way Lance thinks about living with vision loss. It reminded him to stay open, keep learning, and keep moving forward.
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Episode 93
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.
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Episode 92
As Mary's vision worsened, the life she'd always known began slipping out of reach. She wasn't sure where to turn or what might help. But a chance meeting changed things for her in ways she now hopes to pass on.
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Episode 91
When Susan began losing vision, she grew fearful about the future. But she found a source of hope and courage.
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Episode 90
Early in her journey with vision loss, Char was bitter and angry at the world. But one day, a heartfelt conversation helped her turn a corner and, as she put it, "look at vision loss through different eyes."
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Episode 89
The impact vision loss had on Todd's life was profound. Through cycles of anger and depression, he often took it out on those who cared most about him. Then he started channeling those emotions into a new activity, and that made all the difference for him and his family.
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Episode 88
When Pat was diagnosed with an inherited retinal disease, her doctor told her she wouldn't go completely blind, but her life would change forever. And while it's been a hard road, she's found some things along the way that help.
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Episode 87
Debbie has found a place near her that helps unleash her creative streak and her desire to give back to the community, a place where how much she can see doesn't matter.
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Episode 86
Doug was filled with uncertainty after realizing that the vision he lost was unlikely to be restored. His anxiety grew as the silver bullet he hoped for never materialized. But he did find things that helped him manage and continue to live his life with purpose.
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Episode 85
When Nancy's vision deteriorated to the point that it was challenging to navigate streets of a neighborhood she walked for decades, it was humbling. But a friend's comment surprised and inspired her. Her perspective started to shift.
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Episode 84
Macular degeneration was no stranger to Valerie, her mom had the condition. Early into her own diagnosis of AMD, treatments worked well and her vision remained stable. Over time, however, she noticed more significant changes, which became increasingly challenging both emotionally and physically. That's when she began to change her perspective, and that change made all the difference.