"People are accepting there"
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.
Hadley
“People are accepting there”
Debbie: It is wonderful going to the senior center. One thing that they do up there is art. With a little bit of sighted assistance, we do different kinds of art.
Marc: This is Hadley’s Insights and Sound Bites, where people facing vision loss share what has helped them cope and adjust.
Debbie: Hi, my name is Debbie Morgan. I'm from Lafayette, Indiana. The story I want to share is kind of an ongoing experience. I have artificial eyes. I started going to the senior center of Tippecanoe, which is here in Lafayette, probably about a year and a half ago.
One thing that they do up there is art. We do different kinds of art, and much of this stuff I had never done before, but with a little bit of sighted assistance. I've painted rocks. I've painted kind of abstracts because I don't see the pictures. I've worked with clay. I've also made the fleece blankets where people will cut the squares around the edges and then you tie them together. And a friend of mine and I are going to do that and make them for the animal shelter here in Lafayette.
It is wonderful going to the senior center. The people are very accepting. The art instructor is a young lady who is very encouraging, very helpful. And loves to try new things and she is very glad to have me in her class, and I appreciate that. And the other people in the class interact with me and we have a great time.
So any of you out there, if you do get the chance, go to a senior center. There are other activities up there to get involved in to. I love it and I’m very thankful for it. Thank you.
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
-
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.
-
Episode 78
When Cliff unexpectedly lost a fair amount of his sight, he felt overwhelmed. But with time, he found a way forward.
-
Episode 77
Thomas is experiencing many challenges of late, including vision loss. He finds inspiration and hope knowing he's not alone.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Episode 71
Learning he would never see again was heartbreaking for Shannon. Embracing what challenged him, Shannon discovered strength in the unfamiliar.
-
Episode 70
The week Jessica was diagnosed with an eye disease that would progressively impair her vision, she also found out she had cancer. A few things have helped her continue to feel strong and less isolated.
-
Episode 69
Jack's vision has been declining for years. The hardest part for him is that it just keeps changing, so he needs to keep adapting. A routine Jack's wife put in place for the couple has helped him cope and adjust.
-
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.