"You tap into other things when you lose some vision"
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.
Hadley
You tap into other things when you lose some vision
Dianne: I think we have to acknowledge that yes, our sight is diminishing, but our other senses come to life to be more available. And maybe we didn't think of them.
Marc: This is Hadley’s Insights and Sound Bites, where people facing vision loss share what has helped them cope and adjust.
Dianne: I'm Dianne Gavin and I currently live in Ashton, Illinois.
I was diagnosed with glaucoma. My mother had that, so she shared that with me. But she was able to take the eyedrops and she never went blind, but I was unable to take the eye drops because of allergies.
So just got the letter from the doctor, it's called severe primary open angle glaucoma in both eyes. And so, I'm legally blind now. I can still see, but not very well.
I think that you tap into other things when you lose vision, other senses come to life.
During Christmas time, I would crochet and knit for 30 years. Now I can't see to follow the pattern and to see to do the work, but my sense of touch is what I use to make some headbands for Christmas and it wasn't a big project, which gives you the satisfaction completing it, which is what you want,
And so that was an ideal thing. But it was done by the sense of touch, not by a pattern or anything.
The satisfaction of completing something that you started to do is really phenomenal. That’s a great thing to.
And I think we have to acknowledge that yes, our sight is diminishing, but our other senses come to life more to be more available. And maybe we didn't think of them. I didn't think of the sense of touch come to life, but until you actually do it, you don't realize it yourself. And so that's why I was wanting to share that with the group.
Marc: Insights & Sound Bites has made possible by Hadley’s donors. Who understand that hearing someone else’s story can truly make a difference.
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Episode 71
Learning he would never see again was heartbreaking for Shannon. Embracing what challenged him, Shannon discovered strength in the unfamiliar.
-
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.
-
Episode 69
Jack's vision has been declining for years. The hardest part for him is that it just keeps changing, so he needs to keep adapting. A routine Jack's wife put in place for the couple has helped him cope and adjust.
-
Episode 68
Losing a fair amount of her vision brought with it a series of other losses for Dia. She began to feel depressed and very fearful. However, she gradually started giving herself pep talks and reconnecting with the things that bring her joy.
-
Episode 67
Julia had always lived life on her own terms. So, when vision loss meant giving up her car keys, she used a white cane or her husband's arm to guide her steps, and kept going. Still, she noticed a change in how others treated her… until she made a decision she now calls, "the best thing I ever did."
-
Episode 66
When the scenario Leighann had feared for years finally happened and glaucoma took much of her vision, it hit her hard. But her desire to keep living meant challenging herself—even when it scared her.
-
Episode 65
Michael's vision loss led him down a long, uncomfortable road, discovering what he had to let go of and what he could still hold on to for his future. He continues to challenge himself to try new things.
-
Episode 64
Tamisue's eyesight has diminished to the point where she feels stuck between two worlds—not enough vision to function as she once did, but not fully blind. She fears her world going completely dark. However, an addition to her life has made a tremendous difference for both her and her family.
-
Episode 63
The loss Tom feels regarding his vision is complicated because it is ongoing. Acceptance has not come easy. Through the years, though, he has come to approach life a bit differently.