"They're very comforting"
When Albert's vision decreased to the point that he could no longer read print anymore, he found it stressful. But he's found a new source of comfort that helps him quite a bit.
Hadley
They’re very comforting
Presented by Douglas Walker
Albert: I have to plan my day a little more than the average person. You know, in the past, it was, jump in the car, run to the store, get a quart of milk. I can't do that as easily.
Douglas: Hello, and welcome to Hadley’s Insights and Sound Bites podcast, where people facing vision loss share insights about what has helped them cope and adjust.
Albert: My name is Albert Papazoni. I live in Houston, Texas, and I'm, 63 years old.
When I got into my early 50s, I started noticing my vision decreasing very rapidly. And what I found is that I had a genetic issue that skipped a generation.
So today, I would say I have maybe 10% vision, depending on the lighting and stress level, of course you wouldn't believe it, but that does have a huge impact.
I can't read hardcopy paper any longer. And, probably the biggest one is I have to plan my day a little more than the average person. You know, in the past, it was, jump in the car, run to the store, get a quart of milk. I can't do that as easily.
I went to the Humane Society. I ended up getting two cats and they lay in my lap. They come in the door. They follow me to my chair. And animals are so smart.
I sit in my chair and they both want to pop up there and sit on my lap. and, that's very comforting.
So I found a lot of comfort in my cats, and maybe they know I saved them. Maybe there's a little bit of that, too. I don't know, but they're certainly help me.
Douglas: Is there an insight you’d like to share? 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].
All Episodes
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Episode 58
Marie grieved the loss of her vision, and still does. Yet, on a sunny August morning, she came to a realization that made all the difference in the world.
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Episode 57
Terry's doctor told him, "There's nothing more we can do. You'll never drive again," and he was distraught. Then he recalled his military days as a Marine and sailor, and that got him through.
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Episode 56
When Emma lost her sight in just a few months, she struggled to cope. She felt alone, her insecurities grew, and self-esteem plummeted. With time, she came to a new understanding and that helped her tremendously.
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Episode 55
Dave calls his experience with vision loss a slow torture. In the face of this, however, he has found a sense of inspiration in explorers, history, and an activity you wouldn't typically connect with vision loss, sightseeing.
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Episode 53
Jayne can feel isolated living with her eye disease, spending much of her days forcing herself to focus on things that have become blurry. The stress can be overwhelming, causing her to shut down. But there's one area of life that now brings her more joy than ever before.
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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.