"Survive, Adapt, Overcome"
Larry shares how he found strength in his core beliefs to get him through the shock of his initial diagnosis.
Insights and Sound Bites
Survive, adapt, overcome
Larry: It's an unnerving time because you really don't know what to expect. What's going to happen? How am I going to do this?
Marc: This is Hadley’s Insights and Sound Bites. Where people facing vision loss share insights about what has helped them cope and adjust.
Larry: I mean, I was in a fog, a funk if you will. I was shell-shocked that I'd been, I can see, but I can't see. I shouldn't drive. What does that mean? How do I make a living? How do I do the things that I did in life? How do I recreate? How do I associate with people when I can't recognize them? I just see blobs. I mean, they're severely out of focus, and the further away they are from me, the harder it is for me to identify them.
It's an unnerving time because you really don't know what to expect. What's going to happen? How am I going to do this? And at some point, you get through the 'why me' stage, and then you've got to get back to your core beliefs, your faith, your training. In my case, it was the army. The survive, adapt, overcome. And once you get that on board, and once you realize that your wife is in it for the long haul. God bless her. She's been with me 40 years. You can do it, but when you first get it, it's tough. It's rough.
Marc: You never know who might need to hear your story. To share with us, just leave us a message on our “Insights and Soundbites” voicemail by calling 847-512-4867. Or you can use your smartphone or computer and email it to [email protected].
All Episodes
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Episode 81
When Eddie lost a fair amount of vision, she was scared and didn’t know how she was going to cope. But she found a source of strength and inspiration.
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Episode 80
As Kenneth lost most of his sight to glaucoma, he was feeling increasingly isolated and alone. Then he made a commitment, forcing himself to find ways to stay connected to the rest of the world.
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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.
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Episode 78
When Cliff unexpectedly lost a fair amount of his sight, he felt overwhelmed. But with time, he found a way forward.
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Episode 77
Thomas is experiencing many challenges of late, including vision loss. He finds inspiration and hope knowing he's not alone.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Episode 71
Learning he would never see again was heartbreaking for Shannon. Embracing what challenged him, Shannon discovered strength in the unfamiliar.
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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.