"It's more comfortable talking to others that understand"
When Terry lost more of her vision, it took time to come to terms with what was happening. Talking with others who understand what she's going through has made it easier to open up and find her way forward.
Hadley
“It’s more comfortable talking to others that understand”
Terry: I was kind of like embarrassed to say anything. I feel more comfortable when I'm talking about it with people that understand what I'm going through.
Marc: This is Hadley’s Insights and Sound Bites, where people facing vision loss share what has helped them cope and adjust.
Terry: Hi, my name is Terry Bruce. Everyone calls me Shorty. I'm from San Antonio, Texas, and I have optic atrophy. At the end of 19, I had a stroke, so that affected my vision even more. In 2023, I had another stroke, and it's called a CVA.
And it affected my eyes tremendously. And now I'm coping and trying to deal with losing my vision. I have vision in one eye, my right eye, but not as much. And vision in my left eye is totally gone. I can only see sometimes like flashes of light.
And after the first one, I was kind of like embarrassed to say anything. I'm a very independent person. I'm used to taking care of everybody else. I used to be a CNA, I used to be a QMA nurse and a provider. So I'm used to doing for others.
After I came out of the rehab, they say, well, you're gonna need this, you're gonna need that, you're gonna need this. And everything they started telling me, I heard it, but it wasn't happening to me. It was somebody else. It was like an out-of-body experience. And they was like, did you understand? Did you understand?
And I was like, yeah, sure, but you're not talking to me. You're talking to somebody else and I'm just listening to it. So, I wasn't grasping it.
I thank Hadley so much and I'm so glad I found out about it because y'all are helping me talk to other people that either have the same issue that I have or similarity of issues that I have. And I feel more comfortable when I'm talking about it with people that understand what I'm going through.
I know it's a hard road that we're going down and that we're traveling, but if you believe in God or any higher being or whatever, just talk to them. If you have family or friends, Hadley or whatever, just remember that little engine that said, I think I can, I think I can. And one day, sooner or later, you will be able to say, I can, I can because after you lost your vision you can't expect to just jump up and run a marathon you got to take it step by step and day by day a little by little.
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 52
When Jeffry lost his sight, he felt a loss of control, a loss of dignity. Then, he began his long road to empowerment, one small goal at a time.
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Episode 51
Marilyn went through bouts of anxiety and depression with her vision loss and still grieves the loss several years into her journey. She also decided to do something for herself which has helped tremendously.
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Episode 50
Learning to live with vision loss wasn't always easy for Pam. But with time, her bad days are fewer.
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Episode 49
Jennifer didn't know what to do or who to go to for help as her vision was fading. Then, by chance, she found some help. She found some direction.
The book referenced in this episode is "Macular Degeneration: The Complete Guide to Saving and Maximizing Your Sight"
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Episode 48
When Carmel heard a Hadley podcast, it helped her understand what had been happening to her along with her vision loss—something she had nicknamed her "phantom vision."
Carmel mentions an episode of our sister podcast, Hadley Presents. Here's a link to that episode on Vision Loss and Charles Bonnet Syndrome.
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Episode 47
It was tough for Linda to give up driving and she was heartbroken when reading became difficult. She felt her world was shrinking. But then she asked for help.
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Episode 46
Ashia felt all alone in her vision loss. No one around her knew what she was going through. Then she found something that gave her hope.
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Episode 45
Dennis found that many aspects of life with vision loss can be a struggle. Then he found something that turned that around.
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Episode 44
Judy has lived with progressive vision loss for many years. She's found a way that helps her cope and adjust.
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Episode 43
For years Bill hid his vision loss from others. He was self-conscious about it. Then, he decided to open up.
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Episode 42
For Cynthia, every story shared helps her on her own journey with vision loss.
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Episode 41
Living with low vision meant Karen was constantly explaining to others what she can and can't see. Then she found a tool that has made a big difference.
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