"That really sustained me"
Stacy shares with us how being honest about her vision loss with her friends and coworkers has made all the difference in the world.
Hadley
That Really Sustained Me
Presented by Douglas Walker
Douglas: Hello, and welcome to the Insights and Sound Bites podcast, where people facing vision loss share insights about what has helped them cope and adjust.
Stacy: I thought two years ago I was just going to have to quit, and her words resonate with me all the time.
Douglas: My name is Douglas Walker. You know, it’s not always easy to be open about your vision loss. Or, to ask for help when you really need it. Today, we’ll hear from Stacy. Stacy will share with us how being honest with others about her vision loss has made all the difference in the world.
Stacy: Hi, my name is Stacy and I'm from Denver, Colorado. I have Stargardt's disease, so my vision loss has been gradual. I still work in a retail warehouse. One reason I can manage that is because it's my home. I've been there for 15 years.
I have increasing problems with recognizing people, and unfortunately, I work with numbers and they're random. I can still read. It's harder and harder all the time, but I've been able to make it because I work with a group of people who are aware of what's going on, and they come in and help me.
The things that help me is of the people I work with, one. Two, a very good friend of mine who loves me very much and we've worked together, she told me that what I had to contribute was intangible, that I developed young leaders, that my feedback was invaluable because I'm a very honest person, and that really sustained me. I thought two years ago I was just going to have to quit, and her words resonate with me all the time.
Douglas: Was there something that someone said to you or something that happened along the way that made all the difference in the world in helping you adjust to living with vision loss?
We‘d love to hear from you 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]. Again, my name is Douglas Walker. Take care and I’ll see you next time.
All Episodes
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Episode 19
Listen in and be inspired as Saras explains how changing her perspective to, "Why NOT me?" helped her tap into her strengths.
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Episode 18
Sheri shares with us how the love for her horses helped her find purpose and peace.
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Episode 17
Kendra shares with us how a visit to a low vision center gave her more than she ever expected.
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Episode 16
Listen to Carol's story as she shares how owning her changing vision gave her the drive to discover useful resources and realize that it's important—and okay—to ask for help when she needs it.
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Episode 15
Listen in as Chuck shares how he found hope in a chance encounter.
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Episode 14
Listen in as Kara shares how she found new ways to express herself in her love of visual art, and redefining a meaningful life.
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Episode 13
Listen in as Leah shares how it finally clicked for her—the realization that she's not alone.
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Episode 12
Hear how Axel set one goal at a time and slowly took the steps to rebuild his skills, reengage in his art, and reestablish his emotional well being.
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Episode 11
Gregory shares how finding a mentor made all the difference in the world to him, and his entire family.
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Episode 10
Listen in as we hear from Sarah. For her, hearing a blind architect's story changed her perspective on what was possible.
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Episode 9
Listen in as Tom shares how leaning on his faith helps him adjust to vision loss.
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Episode 8
Pat shares with us the choices she made when faced with a visual impairment.