For Cynthia, every story shared helps her on her own journey with vision loss.
Hadley
These stories help tremendously
Cynthia: I have been losing my sight and it gets a little bit worse. But these stories have helped me tremendously.
Marc: This is Hadley’s Insights and Sound Bites, where people facing vision loss share what has helped them cope and adjust.
Cynthia: My name is Cynthia Ceeyu and I live in Phoenix, Arizona, and losing my eyesight has been something that has traveled with me since day one when I was born. And it's my mother had called toxoplasmosis. And then as I got older and I'm 81, the macular degeneration set in, and so I have been losing my sight gradually and it gets a little bit worse all the time.
But my main focus today is I want everyone to know that has called in and left their story, that these stories have helped me tremendously. And I thank Hadley, for having the program and someone has been emailing me these good podcasts and they have helped tremendously to hear each story. There's something that I can pick up, whether it be how to get to a meeting or whether it be how to relate to some of your friends that it's a little bit more hard to be as close to them maybe as you used to be.
But my main focus today is so important to me that Hadley know how much these help people. 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].
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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.
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.
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.
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.
When Susan began losing vision, she grew fearful about the future. But she found a source of hope and courage.
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."
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.
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.
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.