"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
Presented by Douglas Walker
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.
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.
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.
Douglas: 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 44
Judy has lived with progressive vision loss for many years. She's found a way that helps her cope and adjust.
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Episode 43
For years Bill hid his vision loss from others. He was self-conscious about it. Then, he decided to open up.
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Episode 42
For Cynthia, every story shared helps her on her own journey with vision loss.
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Episode 41
Living with low vision meant Karen was constantly explaining to others what she can and can't see. Then she found a tool that has made a big difference.
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Episode 40
Having to give up the car keys was traumatic for Eugenia. She worried about becoming isolated until she found a new way.
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Episode 39
This week, hear how rediscovering a favorite activity helped Celia find balance as she adjusts to vision loss.
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Episode 38
Denise can struggle with the slow but continuous loss of vision she's facing. But she's found a way to pick herself up on a bad day.
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Episode 37
Listen in as Vanessa shares what has helped keep her from feeling hopeless and defeated due to vision loss.
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Episode 36
Stacy shares with us how being honest about her vision loss with her friends and coworkers has made all the difference in the world.
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Episode 35
For many, having to give up the car keys due to vision loss is traumatic. Deb felt it too. Then, during a call to arrange transportation for herself, a new door opened.
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Episode 34
Listen in as Anne describes how a question posed to her shifted her perspective for living with vision loss.
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Episode 33
This week, William shares how learning to continue with his favorite hobby, even with vision loss, has been therapeutic—and uplifting. Here's the link to his website https://www.blindtruths.org/