"You don't have to see it to feel it"
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.
Hadley
You don’t have to see it to feel it
David: RP is like a slow torture, you know. Because six months from now your vision plateaus, and you get comfortable with it, and one day you're watching TV, the next day you can't. And so it's kind of like a slow torture.
Marc: This is Hadley’s Insights and Sound Bites, where people facing vision loss share what has helped them cope and adjust.
David: My name is Dave Lehman, and I'm from Massachusetts.
Well, I'm 67 years old. I have retinitis pigmentosa, or RP. I'm married for 43 years. My wife and I have been together for 51 years, actually, we were childhood sweethearts.
With RP, you're slowly losing sight. RP is a slow torture, you know. If I had to find a word for it, it's a slow torture, because six months from now your vision plateaus, and you get comfortable with it, and one day you're able to drive, the next day can't. One day you're watching TV, the next day you can't. And so, it's kind of like a slow torture. And then, at the end of all that, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is, you get to go blind. And then from there, you either have to really challenge yourself or go down that rabbit hole.
Then it comes push to shove, you've got to pick up the cane, or get a dog, or things like that, and now, there's no more hiding it. You're out there for everybody to see, and it's a hard pill to swallow, but sooner or later, it's what you've got to do.
Things that get me going, or inspire me, it might sound funny, but I love sightseeing. I love history, and I love people or things that inspire me. I listen to books about explorers.
I'll give you an example, one time I was reading about the Civil War and everything like that, and I read this great story about Gettysburg, and it was just driving me crazy out in Pennsylvania, and I said to my wife, "We've just got to go. We just got to go.” And you know, I didn't know how much I was going to like it or anything like that, because visually, I wasn't going to see anything.
So, I get out there and stuff, and we're seeing all the sites and everything, and I actually got to stand in Lincoln's footsteps, where he gave the Gettysburg Address, and I mean, it totally gave me goosebumps. The more I think about it, it's like, "Wow, that's one of those wow moments," and you really didn't have to see it to feel it.
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
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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.